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From Raichur on wards good double road without traffic. As per my road trip experience you need to drive Raichur - Sindhanur - Dharwad road - good and some what short road. Take some short breaks because from Raichur also still you need to drive around 450 km. In this overall drive you are crossing Telangana, Karnataka then Goa. Once you enter Goa state check post, from there on words you will find awesome Panjim - Belgaum road, forest and ghat sections, especially in monsoon overall ghat section with full of water falls.Read More

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Best time to visit Goa is from November to March

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It is a waterfall located on the Mandovani river and is one of the tallest waterfalls in India (about 310mts) and is about 60ksm from Panaji and forms the border between Karnataka and Goa and has a rich variety of flora and fauna.

It is a waterfall located on the Mandovani river and is one of the tallest waterfalls in India (about 310mts) and is about 60ksm from Panaji and forms the border between Karnataka and Goa and has a rich variety of flora and fauna.

One of the most exquisite waterfalls, the Dudhsagar waterfalls is located in the Bhagwan Mahavir Wild Life Sanctuary at Collem in South Goa in the Western Ghats. The site is very popular for trekking and hiking, the fall overlooks a steep, crescent-shaped edge of a valley covered with beautiful tropical forest.

Dudhsagar waterfalls- 10/10 on the adventure and the effort to get to this waterfall. We rode about 60km from south to Dudhsagar and once you reach the parking lot, there is still another one hour to reach the waterfall, and for your info, they do not let you take your bike/car, there are guys who are hired to take people on pillions in their bikes towards the waterfall, since there are no roads constructed for vehicles, its almost tarmac/crazy sandy area by the side of the railway track and through the forest. After an hour of riding through the forests, there is another 15 minutes of trekking towards the waterfall. Throughout this journey I was only hoping that the waterfalls better be ‘worth’ all this effort in caps lock. But let me break the ice and tell you that when you finally reach Dudhsagar, you are /walking through/standing on a railway track wherein one side you can see the falls and the other you can see with 100s of locals from Karnataka and Goa. The falls it ain’t that pretty a scene, although from an helicopter shot, the view might be splendid ( If you want to see for yourself, watch the Indian movie ‘Chennai Express’ shot here). If Goa gets too dry for you with only beaches and beaches, this place is a must-go atleast for its adventure.
P.S: Make sure you have spaced out an entire day for this waterfall .Drink enough water, cos after you reach the parking lot, you will find refreshments only once you reach the waterfall arena and also you do not want to wait till you reach there to have lunch cos you really don’t want to eat from there. Period!

Dudhsagar falls is situated in Collem National Park i.e.. 24 kms away from Ponda. After reaching Collem, we hired bikes along with the riders that take you to the Dudhsagar Falls. Yes, the same location where the film Chennai Express was shot. The road towards Dudhsagar was rocky, muddy, narrow and slippery but my rider and Yamaha FZ made it safe for me. Also, my past off-road experience helped me a lot. It was a thorough adrenaline rush. The cold breeze brushing past our cheeks; the sky frowning with the dark clouds; the drizzle made the ride more adventurous. The lush green paddy fields, the river bulging with water flowing under the bridge, the wet long winding roads, the beautiful birds, wild insects, frogs and crickets making sounds, seems they were singing a welcome song for the rains. The clouds emerging like a smoke from the mountains seemed so romantic. After seeing the breath-taking view of Dudhsagar Falls, I felt accomplished.
The riders were locals who stayed in Collem village. My rider was Jayesh aka Prince Knight (his facebook name). They were innocent, honest people and took utmost care about our safety. They guided us properly through the rough terrain of the sanctuary.

There was a buzz of activity. I made it to the Dudhsagar falls in good time. 15kms in 4 hours! There was a flood of people who had alighted at the Dudhsagar railway station which is just about a kilometer from the falls. It’s usually, preferred by people who want to view the monstrous falls with their families, friends and kids without having to endure the walk from Castle Rock. [ But I do have a general request to the folks visiting the place. It's all great that you go and visit the place but please refrain from polluting the place. Please do understand that it's not a garbage yard that you can throw empty plastic bottles and containers and wrappers there as you go for a nice little picnic.
mist sprayed into the atmosphere. The milky white waterfall roared and gushed down the rocky face. The green carpet encompassed the entire falls. And there I stood on the railway tracks made just a few feet away from the lavishing falls. It was majestic. It mighty. It was humongous. It just reminded me of the nature’s beauty and her sheer power. I am out of words at this juncture describing the awe that I experienced as I stood so tiny so powerless in front of the might and glory of the falls. Usually, hikers camp by the falls overnight, before they set out the next day on their return walk. Families walk back to the Dudhsagar Railway station to catch a return train. Hitch-hikers hop onto goods locomotives to carry them to the next closest major railway station. I had chalked out a different set of plans. I stayed put by the falls for an hour before I picked up my soaking boots and bags as I started walking towards the Goan side.
A little ahead about half a kilometer into the walk is the view that people talk about when they hear Dudhsagar. Its an incredible view of the fizzing falls taking the plunge at an incredible force into unfathomable depths. If you are lucky you could witness a locomotive dredge slowly along the track with the falls in the background.
It was pouring again and I had to cover another 11kms. This part of the trail is a lot quieter, through lesser number of tunnels and lesser number of enterprising walking stretches but the wind blew and the rains poured as I slowly made my way to Sonaulim Railway station. The walk- on the tracks, in the rains had started taking its toll on my calf muscles. Dredging along I made it to Kullem just as the dusk was creeping in. And so I there I was sitting on the bench, waiting for my train to carry me back to Bangalore with thoughts running wild in my head.

The Dudhsagar Waterfalls, located high up on the Mandovi River’s watershed, remain quiet for most part of the year and spring to life during the rainy season. Beholding the gushing water leap from the edge of towering cliffs and cascade down the slippery worn out slope is a sobering experience. If one is lucky one can witness a train crawl on the viaduct framed against the rising spray of water emanating from the waterfall. A camping site sits a few yards from the viaduct; at night the pitter patter of rain and the thudding of the trains are a lullaby to the tired trekkers.

Apart from being a useful mode of transportation the Ghat section of the railway line also harks back to olden times. Buildings in varied states of disrepair are all that remains of the government apparatus that once stood here on the border of British India and Portuguese Goa. Moss and lichen have taken over lonely dilapidated structures along the railway track. The ruins at Castle Rock reminisce the days when weary travelers crossing the border lined up in the offices for immigration checks.

Night stay at the resort after an exhausting trek. The resort has options to stay in tents and rooms. We selected tents. That was a mistake. The tents had very dim lights. No doors to the toilet. The toilet was separated by a curtain from rest of the room. Please for the rooms if you chose to stay here. Food not so great.

A must visit for everyone. The spectacular part of this waterfalls is that we you have a look at the train over bridge and as the water falls from the mountain and also the walk along the train track and tunnel view is simple awesome

We left our bikes at Kadumane and took a jeep to Castlerock railway station and then took a train till Dudhsagar railway station. We trekked to reach the falls which was at its full might.
I will recommend you go here only during the monsoon season.
We had packed lunch on the sidelines of the railway track with rains giving us company through out.

The multi-tiered Dudhsagar falls are a sight to see and the encompassing forests have this mystical air about them. The 600 metre long waterfall looks more a cascading stream of milk and like a dozen other geographical beauties in India, there are several intriguing legends associated with it. Monsoons are the best time to visit. Swim for as long as you can and make merry!

All trains stop at this now-defunct railway station for a few minutes to prepare for the uphill climb forward. We took this opportunity to get off here along with many other people. There is no platform at this station so we had to jump off from the train. From here we started walking on the railway track. The Doodhsagar waterfall is a 1 km walk from here.

The waterfall is so massive that one cannot get the whole thing in one frame from this bridge. We had to walk another 1 km towards Kulem to get the view of the entire waterfall. We took loads of pictures here and then continued walking on the railway track.

We continued our 12 km trek on the railway track. At some places we wandered off to the adjecent forest and found mini streams, waterfalls and river. We took snack breaks and ate the packed food that we had. Near Caranzol we also found a shop where we had tea and chips and asked for boiled water to have our Cuppa Noodles.

Soon, the morning sun rays moved the fog gently away to give us a clearer view of the falls. Photographs of the waterfalls, do not do justice to the experience of standing in front of Dudhsagar Falls. The spray from the falls drenched me instantly. We were standing on the railway bridge in front of the falls, where the iconic photo of Dudhsagar waterfalls is taken. I could not take my eyes off the falls even for a moment. Monsoon is the best time to visit the falls. The milky white water gushes down the rocks with a terrifying force. The mist that rises up from the falls, creates a rainbow in the shining sun.

Sometimes, life gives us sudden surprises. It depends on how we react to those situations and how calmly we try to handle something which has gone wide of the mark. We can either make the most of it or waste time cribbing and throwing tantrums. Something similar happened when we started for the most awaited trek of the year, “The Dudhsagar Waterfall and Jungle Trek”.

We headed to visit Dudhsagar falls some 54 kms from Benaulim, a place known for a majestic waterfall and a railway route that passes dissecting it, somewhat an abode for the photographers and the insta doers.Word of advice - Looking for breakfast before you head there, advisable have it in your hotel or near your place of stay since not many good joints would fall on the way.The route is equally scenic, wouldn’t disappoint at any moment. You would need to leave your car behind when you are 10kms from the waterfall since then onwards there are other cars and special drivers who take you forward amidst dense forest.Dudhsagar falls, provides you with an avenue where you can take a dip in the water just at the foot of the falls, hence in case interested please do not forget to carry a set of extra clothes.Post our visit there, one of many famous restaurants of Goa i.e. The Martin’s Corner was our next stop. The restaurant is located at Belbatim, Goa (South Goa) and the same boasts of amazing food, live music and some good alcohol.

We trekked to Dudhsagar camp and awaited for the next morning to head towards the spectacular Dudhsagar waterfall. Dudhsagar camp had a stream nearby where all of us went for a refreshing bath and played to our heart's content. Water so fresh and clean that we didn't feel the need for any lotions to soothe our skin.

We were scheduled to arrive at Madgoan at 12 noon. The morning journey was much peaceful and we had Vada Pao and Mandakki as breakfast. The view of Western Ghats was amazing since the train moved slowly amidst those green hills. As soon as we arrived at Castle Rock station, we moved towards the door to get the view of the famous Dudh Sagar Falls. You get it at 39th km board, in between of 11th and 12th tunnel. We saw the falls and it was beautiful, though there wasn't much water in the falls.

At 5:30, we woke up and got fresh. We had breakfast (Pav Bhaji :P) and packed our lunch, and we were given a short intro about our today's trek route. We would cover 14 kms today, and would come across 7-8 water streams to be crossed, and finally reach Doodhsagar camp. We left at 7:15 AM towards Cansaulim Railway station, and it was hardly 5 minute walk.

However, we could see the majestic Dushsagar waterfall in the moonlit night from the train. It was absolutely mesmerizing. It is just not called Dudhsagar (Ocean of Milk). There is a reason behind that. The waterfall really appeared milky white against the backdrop of the full moon light. And it took our breaths away. :)We had our tickets till Kulem so rest of us got down at Kulem station.Now, with Plan A not been able to make the grade, we waited for the unexpected. Shilpa, Sandesh and Sanket were continuously co-ordinating with Manoj and trying to figure out what could be done next. There was not much time left to go backwards because of the distance (14 x 2 kms to and fro). There were many first timers and hence, we could not have completed the trek within the calculated time if started from Kulem.After having tea and coffee, we came up with Plan B. An unexplored Jungle trek to Tamdi Surla Waterfall.That’s it. The best unplanned surprise of life awaited us at a distance of 22 kms from Kulem. (Early morning JUGAADS helped)Vehicles arranged. Engines came to life. We started off to explore the unknown. With monsoon at it’s peak, it was happy green everywhere. We reached Tamdi Surla in 30 mins.The gates of the Mahadev temple were closed. It was supposed to open for public after 8:00. We decided to head towards the waterfall instead.The trek is entirely through a dense forest. Several water streams on the way. Some small and some with strong water current. We could hear the roar of the water from far. The trail was simply breathtaking. We located many colourful mormons and millipedes.Crossing streams, Walking through the dark under the green tunnels, walking on the bamboo bunches spread across. Experiencing the sting of thorny leaves and branches. The thorns penetrating deep into the skin. Blood oozing in attempt of removing the thorns which were too small to locate.

The rail trek is full of stones from the start till the end, So my suggestion would be to wear a good trekking shoe if you are going for this trek. We reached Dudhsagar Waterfalls at around 4:00 PM. It's about 14 KM from Castle Rock to Dudhsagar, but you will never feel tired if the weather is good and It was good for us. After reaching to the waterfall you have to trek around a kilometre to reach the view-point.We continued our trek even after the view-point instead of returning to Dudhsagar. We trekked till the Sonaulim Station and then boarded another train and reached Kulem. That's another interesting story how we boarded the train in Sonaulim. We had booking in Dudhsagar Spa Resort which is around 6 KM from Kulem. Then, we booked a cab from Kulem Station and reached there.It's a nice place to stay. We stayed in tents. Tents were good &amp; well maintained. Food was good, they had a dancing floor as well along with the bar/restaurant. Overall our stay was good at the resort. They had Spa and other activities as well but, with extra charges. We didn't had much time to check them out.

I was not done though. The cherry on the cake was the huge expanse of Dudhsagar waterfalls that I saw from my train to Pune. And a train bogie that had been over turned and slipped from the rail routes decades ago all rusted, where the vines and shrubs had accommodated themselves in the compartments. Adaptability is the key to survival and this was a living example of it. This tour had taught me a lot. I started seeing the urge to live right from the Signature Spider to the Gray Pansy that had just been caught in its web. I started respecting life. As the train speeded through taking me back to the urban life, I was lost in the memories of the past week; silently making a promise to myself. The promise of coming back to this paradise soon! - SUSHRUT KARMARKAR The author is a Mechanical Engg student; An amateur photographer and a nerd in love with nature and wildlife. He is associated with MidEarth as a wildlife expert. All the pictures in this article are clicked by Sushrut Karmarkar.

Trip to Dudhsagar Goa It is said that destiny has its own way of fulfilling our wishes;at the outset we may not findpattern in events but after some time we get to know that there is a plan.Reason to remember this quote because friends have their own way of doing and planning things which we cannot comprehend.same is true for this exciting trip to Dudhsagar Waterfall.We planned this trip with help extensive research done by my friend Mahesh Thombare.We had no idea of what this trek[not actually trek but walk] was,but we agreed to this adventure. So First things first lets get to know about Dudhsagar Waterfall it is located at

Dudhsagar waterfall is one of the highest waterfall in India. It has a total height of 306 meters and a width of 30 meters. The waterfall lies in the southern part of Goa at Mollem, towards the border with Karnataka state. It forms a part of Mandovi river, Goa. Dudhsagar means 'Sea of milk' in konkani(regional language of Goa). It gets this name because when you look at it, it like an overflowing sea of milk.There is an interesting legend attached behind to this name. Here it goes- Once upon a time there was a Princess, daughter of a wealthy and powerful king of western ghats, who used to enjoy bathing at a lake nearby. After bath, it was her habit to drink to drink jugful of sweetened milk. The jug made up of pure gold. One day while enjoying her jug of milk she found herself being watched by a Prince. Embarrassed by her inadequate attire she poured the sweetened milk to from an improvised curtain to hide her body, while one of her maids rushed to cover her with a dress. The sweetened milk cascades down the mountain slope to this day as tribute to the virtue and modesty of the Princess.

Goa’s iconic Dudhsagar falls is in its full glory during the rains which is one of the most amazing monsoon activities in Goa. Its powerful gush becomes almost dizzying! Stand close too close to it could get you completely drenched. You can reach the falls either by train or by road through Panaji or Madgaon. And if your young bones are screaming out for more you could also trek up the falls.Make sure to get a rented scooter to ride in the rains at just 175/-Goa is the first state in India were in one can register car, bike or other vehicle on line from the dealers directly which started in June'06 and one needs not go to R.T.O. for registration.Goa is the only place where one can hire a two wheeler taxi called “pilots”.

• The Dudhsagar Fall :- The Dudhsagar Falls, located in the Mollem National Park is a must-visit during the monsoon when the waters are in full flow• Spice Plantations :- Not something one immediately associates with Goa, but the spice plantations at Savoi-Verem are a popular attraction in the state. The main spices grown here are Cloves, Cinnamon, Cardamom, Nutmeg, Ginger and Pepper. Recommended highly by the locals, the Savoi Plantations come alive beautifully during the monsoon and this is one of the best times to visit them

In monsoon the must visit place in Goa is Dudhsagar Falls. It is Located in Goa - Karnataka Border. If you love to trek this place is a must visit. In monsoon Dudhsagar has the full flow of water which is a magnificent view.

“No one will be allowed to go to the falls or alight at the Doodhsagar station. The train will stop only at Kulem (the first station after the waterfall) once it starts from here.“, said the RPF Jawan through the PAS.Access to the Doodhsagar falls has been banned, I learn after some asking around. Even though this meant that my entire trek was now in jeopardy, I was not surprised by this to be honest. With the kind of reckless activities that have been going on in and around the falls since some time now, leading to multiple deaths due to drowning, a ban here was just a matter of time. Sadly.The quaint station of Castlerock hardly sees a handful of people at a time so with hundreds of people at once, the place looked very much out of capacity. Staying there was not something me and my travel-mates wanted to do. Neither did we want to go back, not that there was any option anyway. So we decided to take our chances and began our walk without any further ado.Minutes after we had started it was calm all around. Most of the crowd seemingly did not like the idea of walking for hours and stayed behind, much to our joy. You see, fewer people means you can take-in the beauty around you without the shrieks and shouting of the over-excited ‘tourists’. Very soon walking along the tracks which snaked away into the greenery started calling for more attention. The trails on both sides of the track became narrower as we moved ahead and coupled with the slippery surface, we were just one slip away from falling in the jungle below most of the time.As we trudged along mostly balancing ourselves on the tracks and rarely off it, the rains kept playing hide &amp; seek with us. No sooner had we put-on our rain coats to save us from the unexpected heavy showers, the bright sun would come right up. Then, as soon as the perspired us were done with the painful process of unloading the back-pack, taking-off the rain-wear and putting it back in the bag, the rain gods once again used to smile mischievously. This kept on repeating until we finally decided to walk with our rain coats on, whether it rained or not.Walking through the lush greenery on both sides, I couldn’t help but be amazed at the beauty of the these deep forests. The monsoon clouds kept us company as we walked past numerous milky white streams flowing below the tracks at random intervals.Except for the occasional trains which showed up from one side of the deep forests and got lost in the other in no time, the only things that broke the monotony of our walk were the age-old tunnels and bridges. They always made us excited. Their rustic nature and rickety look was like a glimpse of the olden time and we always spent sometime to take-in their beauty at such places.Crossing the dark tunnels were fun and scary at the same time as well. Even more so, when a train came along while you are just half way through a 200 meter long tunnel. This is what happened to me.I was almost 100 meters or so inside one of the tunnels when I heard the loud blare of a train entering as it entered the tunnel. Not sure about what to do and being sure about the fact that trying to race the train was not a great idea, I decided to turn around facing the wall and stick to it. Standing on whatever narrow space that existed between the wall and the track I waited until the train passed.We were not allowed to walk beyond the nondescript station of Caranzol, a station where hardly any trains stopped. As we re-traced our steps back to Castlerock, I couldn’t help but notice how different the same forests which we crossed just few hours back looked under different colored clouds and even more over-cast sky. A darker shade of green with hovering gray clouds above.This trip was originally published in Rajiv Verma's Travel and Lifestyle Blog on October 29, 2015.

This is a very well preserved fort which was built in the 17th Century by the Portuguese. The fort was made as the most important building of the Portuguese colonials and they always wanted to save it against the Dutch and the Maratha rulers. It is in the Candolin area on the Sinquerim Beach. The location of the fort on the banks of the Mandovi River makes it look even more beautiful. The fort covers a large area and almost covers the whole tip land of the Bardez Peninsula. At present there is also a holiday resort built here by the tatas and is a beautiful place to stay for a peaceful vacation. It is also close to the Candolim Beach and the shopping and eating areas around. This was at one time the most important port where most of the ferries and boats landed and left from and thus the name Aguada meaning 'water'.

This is a very well preserved fort which was built in the 17th Century by the Portuguese. The fort was made as the most important building of the Portuguese colonials and they always wanted to save it against the Dutch and the Maratha rulers. It is in the Candolin area on the Sinquerim Beach. The location of the fort on the banks of the Mandovi River makes it look even more beautiful. The fort covers a large area and almost covers the whole tip land of the Bardez Peninsula. At present there is also a holiday resort built here by the tatas and is a beautiful place to stay for a peaceful vacation. It is also close to the Candolim Beach and the shopping and eating areas around. This was at one time the most important port where most of the ferries and boats landed and left from and thus the name Aguada meaning 'water'.

A much welcome change from the flurry of beaches in Goa, Aguada fort still has a lingering presence in it back from the days when it used to serve as a prison.
Tour of the entire place takes less than 2 hours and overlooking the Arabian sea is a pleasant experience.

After exploring the calmness of South Goa, I went ahead to witness the madness of North Goa. My first spot Fort Aguada is possibly the largest and the best-preserved Portuguese bastion in Goa. A very interesting thing about the fort is a 13 metre high lighthouse, which looks down over the vast expanse of sea, sand and palm tress. It’s definitely worth visiting!

The #Lighthouse and #Aguada Fortress is a good spot to view the #Arabian Sea. Its a 17th century Portuguese fort used for defense. From being used during war to being used as a prison for drug use, this fort has quite a history, I only wonder if there are some spirits still guarding the place.
On the Aguada-Siolim road, you can also stop for Go-karting.

Aguada Fort: 9/10 only cos’ it dates back to many years(1612) built by the Portuguese to provide water supply to the ships that stopped by and has lighthouse. The compound is quite huge and when you walk by each floor, will have its own history. The fort has a splendid view overlooking the sinquerim beach, the arabian sea and whole bunch of greenery, from atop . The one thing I noticed here was that the tourists who came here were mostly brown people and most whites were at the beach, I assume its because of the hype that the Bollywood industry has created here with the movie ‘Dil Chahta Hai’.

Its a must visit fort. It has a light house also. It was built by Portuguese in 1613. Many people visit here. The drive till here was really amazing.
Entry fee: NIL
How to Reach: 17 Kms from Vagator Beach
Recommended Length of Visit: 1-2 hrs
Tips: Reach around 11am
Facts: Its a Fort cum lighthouse built by the Portuguese in 1613.

It's a seventeenth century Portugeuse Fort on Sinquerim Beach. It was built for clean water storage so that big ships could fill clean drinking water. That's why the fort is named Fort Aguada, 'Aguada' meaning water.

This is one of the sightseeing places in Goa. There is the lighthouse on this fort. Many bollywood movies are shot here. Whilst going to this place, you will come across Dolphin ride too. On my first trip to Goa, we had taken the dolphin ride and we didn't spot a single dolphin. We had paid 300rs just for 30mins boat ride. So this time I was sure that I am skipping the dolphin ride and so did my group fellows too. We visited this place in scorching midnoon heat so we visited the place, clicked pictures as fast as we could and left early as the heat was unbearable. I am sure the evening time would be better as the view of vast ocean from this place is incredible too.

We continued our journey and reached Aguada fort. On your way we visited the beaches of Baga and Calangute. Aguada fort is Portuguese fort of the seventeenth century that was used as a point of reference for ships coming from the European nations. The fort has a four storey lighthouse which was built in around 1864. It was considered to be a major stronghold of the Portuguese.

But when the first five star hotel, Taj Fort Aguada (now Vedanta by Taj), had opened in 1974, it was thought to be a highly risky bet. Conventional wisdom held that foreigners wouldn’t travel this far for a seaside holiday, and also that Indians would always remain solar phobes. So while that first resort dominated a pristine arc of beach, every other strip of sand in Goa was gloriously empty: no shacks, no touts, no rooms for rent. Hard to believe, isn’t it?All that changed rapidly when mass tourism took off. Without adequate planning in place, a veritable tsunami of concrete haphazardly overwhelmed much of the once – beautiful shoreline.Now Goa goes 24 hours, 365 days a year, cramming in almost three million tourists annually, more than doubling its population all through the high season. Now dozens of flights pour into the state from across India, and another thousand charters annually connect the state to a bewildering array of countries: Iran, Ukraine, Finland, and Taiwan.But even as the rustic has become overshadowed by rush hour, the fact is that most of Goa’s original charms are resolutely intact if you know where to look. Step slightly beyond the blinking neon of the main tourist drags, and a beguiling, diverse and unique cultural landscape unfolds right in front of you.And there’s a song at every turn.

Few kilometers away is Aguada fort and en-route to the fort, one comes across the church of St. Lawrence, the saint of the sailors where you would start believing in the idea of heaven as a place, as you stand on top of the hill staring at the Arabian sea where water shimmers like pearls when sunlight hits the surface of water.

On Thursday, it was Agora Fort or Aguada Fort. This old Portuguese fort stands on the beach south of Candolim, at the shore of the Mandovi River. There isn’t much to see here, but the view from the Fort is really good. There were a couple of old churches beside the Fort which were full with school kids, but you needn’t worry about not visiting, because in Goa you can’t go three blocks without a church staring at you.

My second day in Goa and i was heading for Aguada Fort early morning as i know the Sun would be crazy by afternoon. Aguada Fort was not much of a thing. Just a fort, fort!I couldn't wait to go to the beach, so we headed towards the beach. Beach, as usual, was awesome. *blush* (As if I was on a date with the beach.. ya, you can say that!) :P Beaches in Goa are beautiful.

Day 2 started with our planned trip to Fort Aguada, 15kms away from Tamarind and about half an hour drive. The fort provides with some fascinating view of Panaji and the Arabian Sea. Rich in history and still quite well maintained, the fort gives you ample opportunities to click some fabulous pictures.&nbsp;

Today we visited Fort Aguada the Portuguese fort near Sinquerim Beach and did some water sports , all the other beaches also have water sports but I usually prefer at Sinquerim Beach as its less crowded and you can more time and don’t have to wait much for your turn.

Next day(Sunday), we had arranged one taxi for sight seeing...So after having breakfast, we first went to Aguada Fort. Remember to take your hats, sunglasses, shawls and wear sunscreen once you go there..Its damn hot there.

&nbsp;12th Feb, next day, we hire a 2 wheeler and drive to the Aguada fort just after it closes down to our utter dismay. But, on the way back , our encounter with the cheap charlie hippie pub assures us why Goa is the land of chilled out people.Sushegad, i am reminded.

This fort is amongst the many preserved places to see in Goa and essays an era of yore filled with events. A Portuguese fort overlooking the Sinquerim Beach and the Arabian Sea, Fort Aguada was constructed in 1613 and since then it has become a prominent landmark or a reference point for ships visiting the Goan shores from Europe.Dona Paula

One of the most popular as well as one of the most charming locations of Bardez, this is one out of the main beaches of the region. Especially, after the sun sets, the beach is beautifully lit up and so are the food shacks around. Carnivals are also organized here periodically and being here is absolutely blissful. If you feel the place is too crowded, the secret is that the region on the northern end of the beach where you find the main carpark or the mouth of the river is mostly crowded. This is because most of the water activity rentals are found over here. If you walk for about 15 minutes from here you will find the crowd thinning out and the beach becoming even more beautiful and peaceful. Besides the scenic beauty, the beach is also cleaner on this part and the water is cleaner too. The warm waters of the Baga Beach are not only fit for water sports but also for some swimming and beach games before that.

One of the most popular as well as one of the most charming locations of Bardez, this is one out of the main beaches of the region. Especially, after the sun sets, the beach is beautifully lit up and so are the food shacks around. Carnivals are also organized here periodically and being here is absolutely blissful. If you feel the place is too crowded, the secret is that the region on the northern end of the beach where you find the main carpark or the mouth of the river is mostly crowded. This is because most of the water activity rentals are found over here. If you walk for about 15 minutes from here you will find the crowd thinning out and the beach becoming even more beautiful and peaceful. Besides the scenic beauty, the beach is also cleaner on this part and the water is cleaner too. The warm waters of the Baga Beach are not only fit for water sports but also for some swimming and beach games before that.

Baga Beach : Rating- 10/10
The shacks played good music, good service, good crowd, good food and shisha.

In a party mood, head straight to BAGA Beach. Baga Beach is famous for Beach Parties, Cafes, disco, karaoke etc.. You will also get good food in these cafes. Mambo and Titos are most famous among tourists. If you want to have a tattoo then this is the best place. Beware of middle man. I had went to Xavier Beach Cafe, food was amazing.
Entry fee: NIL
How to Reach: 7 Kms from Vagator Beach
Recommended Length of Visit: 3-4 hrs
Tips: Go at Night
Facts: Don’t indulge in Massage and Prostitution. This place is famous for that.

Baga beach is one of the most happening and lively beach in Goa. It is situated in North Goa. It's one place where you can actually have fun which has no end. People come here, eat, drink, walk or just play in water. Many visitors buy souvenirs from the beach side shops. It looks beautiful during night time. If you like water sports activities, you can try the parasailing, banana rides and dolphin cruises which are just very exciting. Baga beach is very catchy and cool.

One of the most happening beaches of Goa. Full of life and buzz. You'll find a lots of shacks along the beach stretch, most famous - Britto's. Also, one of the roads leading upto the beach is the famous Tito's lane. This beach has all kinds of water sports. Best suited for evening. You'll find yourself being approached my numerous temporary tattoo makers, foot masseuse etc.

If you are in Goa for some party time, and you wanna be surrounded by party lovers...this is the place for you. There are countless number of clubs at baga lane for you. Party hard, get inked, go crazy, have dinner at the shacks with the candle lamps on the table facing the sea and the stars with some great music to keep you tuned.

Baga Beach is one of the most beautiful and popular beaches of Goa where you can enjoy tides and waves of sea. You can enjoy candle light dinner at beachside restaurants and get a tattoo if you wish for it. Paragliding can be enjoyed at Baga Beach and it will make your trip more adventorous.

so we spent 3 hours after clubbing, here on the Baga to witness the sunrise! Our bad that we missed out that Goa is on west coast so the sunrise turned out to be one of the funniest moment. Still this beach is lively till 4am. Few shacks were still open and playing music.

The party gets going after sunset and this is the time people start coming out on streets. Walk down the strip towards Baga beach. It has some good Sports Bars, Clubs and cafes which are highly recommended for football followers. The Cape Town Cafe, Cocktails and Dreams, to name a couple and of course the most prominent of all Titos and Mambos.&nbsp;This Strip is one of the most crowded street in Goa and one cannot set a foot here during Christmas and New Year. Baga is also popular for its shacks on the beach. During night the atmosphere on beach and strip is amazing. Every single person here, is to have fun. Stroll on the beach towards the Baga River, will get you to Brittos. Popular for its menu and taste, a meal here is recommended.

Vagator is approx 10km north up of Baga Beach ( the most popular tourist spot) , and about 60km from the railway station and airport. It was my 1st time in Vagator and on my arrival in that area I kind of have mixed thoughts, it was not very populous nor very happening but it was quaint !!! But what I had not imagined how my rest of the 3 days were going to change my perception for this part of Goa.

We would visit the Baga beach almost every night after clubbing or before clubbing but it was like a norm to visit the Baga! We loved the beach vibes at the Baga. Lively, music, colourful, shacks etc.Visit all beaches in evening time if you are a sunset fan. We had viewed sunset from all different beaches/places on all days till the time we were in Goa!We had rented bikes for all days while we were in Goa. We had paid INR250 (bargained down from INR300!) for a bike per day. We returned it only on our last day of the trip.Carry your valid driving license as this is required while vehicle renting procedure. And also carry your id proof with you as this would be requested on airport, apartment check-in and also renting the vehicle!Download offline map for Goa before you start your trip as GPS turned out to be very helpful for us.So overall, we thoroughly enjoyed the GOA nightlife for which Goa is famous for and trust me, we had the time of our lives and believe that this is how Goa is to be enjoyed!We pre-booked this 3bhk AC apartment for group of 8 people and man, this was the best option we had for our stay! Spacious and huge rooms with paid kitchen (100rs a day) included all amenities. It costed 3300rs per person for 7 days in Goa (not at all bad considering the apartment and location!) Very ideal for family and large group!

We then headed to Baga Beach for some water sport activities and the only thing on our minds was the parasailing. At 1,300 for the both of us and a measly 5 mind of ride, you would think what a waste of money! But hey, that’s the price you pay for commercialization. We headed back to the hotel to rest our boiling heads and bodies.&nbsp;

&nbsp;After drenching in the never ending tides, we all had a lovely stroll till Baga beach. It was time to explore the night life of Goa, from Colourful Shacks by the beach side to Cruise Casino, Goa has so much to offer.

11th Feb 15, we arrive at North Goa. Checked into the hotel. In the evening, we plan to go to Calangute beach. It is crowded (not to my liking) but a trip to Brittos at Baga Beach on the first night makes up more than that.

&nbsp;On goanese beach, we enjoyed candle light beach dinner at Baga beach &amp; Anjuna flea market. But amazing beach is devbaug island(tarkali) at konkan area in south Maharashtra. I would like to call it as "Mini Phuket". Its unique place where kali river &amp; sea meet &amp; its called "sagar sangam". one side white sandy beach(non poluted ) &amp; other side back water rides(in kali river).All water sports including scuba diving can be done here.we like scuba &amp; kayaking. Goa is very common destination for every indian, even i have been here for 7 times. But this time what we have explored it's really amazing. It reminds me steve jobe's word "stay hungry stay foolish"Disclosure : This was my crazy travel plan, to explore unknown roads with help of google "siri" &amp; almost 2700 km self driving.Thanks to my family to support my crazy ideas.

After 1 km walk through the goan soil, we reached our stay..It looks like a small hut from outside..We collected the keys and went to our room..It was such a cute and homely house..We felt we are at home itself..After a short nap, we walked towards the Baga Beach.On the way to the beach, our eyes got stuck at one of the tatoo shops there..and the board imprinted 'temporary tatoos'..We went there and did one temporary tatoo of a horse :PAgain from there we walk towards the baga beach...There are plenty of water sports operators in Baga Beach and you can identify them by the herd of water scooters and boats parked in one corner of the beach...Many people will approach you with many water sport package..Choose wisely..Finally we took it as a package worth Rs.1500 which includes the Water Bike, Banana Ride, Bumper Ride and Parasailing...First we rode the Water Bike..It was damn thrilling..The instructor will ride the bike acrooss the waves with heavy speed...You need to jump when a high tide comes..Next was the bumper ride...We need to sit in a tyre like structure and we will be driven towards the deep sea and they will rotate us with high speed...Next was the Banana Ride.. All the other rides were twin sharing..wereas in this ride, four of us were together...here this banana like structure will be driven towards the deep sea and they will tell us to jump in the sea...Man..Once you jump, you will get confused whether this is scuba diving or not..I could see the under water and the depth of sea and somehow after couple of minutes, we were taken back to the banana structure. Next was the Parasailing...They will take us to the deep sea via a small boat...and from there we shifted to another boat where parachute and rope were present..Instructor inside the boat told we need to pay 600Rs extra if we want to dip in water while doing Parasailing..Seeing a couple of people doing the same, we also said okay for dipping..Finally it was my turn to do Parasailing...Though I had little fear of doing this initillay, once I reached heights, it was sooo damn thrilling...Parasailing keeps your heart racing as you test the waters and let out the adventurer in you...Perfect Ride for adventureous People..I felt like a brid..with wings...They made me dipped in sea..Feels like I was on a swing...Then I went upwards and the perfect point is when you reach the top position..I felt sooooo good...Calm and quiet sea...With Blue sky above...Dark Sea below me....Multicoloured Parachute...Winds blowing...My mind filled with happiness....Finally they took me back towards the boat :( My mind cried I wanto fly moree and experience the feeling..It was around 3 00 pm afternoon..So we walked towards a restaurant and had Roti and spicy Paneer Curry...Finally we went back to our Hotel..We talked about the excitement we had while doing Parasailing..After getting fresh and all, we simply walked a lot and did some shopping and had dinner and slept peacefully with fulfillment.

Known as the 'Queen of Beaches', this is regarded as the most popular tourist destination of Goa. The beach is located at about 15 kilometres from the capital city of Panjim and is in the northern part of Goa. There are also a number of very good holiday resorts out here and this makes the place even more popular. Besides, the Calangute Beach has to offer to its guests and visitors the golden sands, opportunities for water sports, awesome Goan cuisine and some lovely views too. The beach is steep and is thus not very apt for swimming but it can be done still if you do not go far off.

Known as the 'Queen of Beaches', this is regarded as the most popular tourist destination of Goa. The beach is located at about 15 kilometres from the capital city of Panjim and is in the northern part of Goa. There are also a number of very good holiday resorts out here and this makes the place even more popular. Besides, the Calangute Beach has to offer to its guests and visitors the golden sands, opportunities for water sports, awesome Goan cuisine and some lovely views too. The beach is steep and is thus not very apt for swimming but it can be done still if you do not go far off.

Calangute Beach: Rating: 4/10
Honestly, ain’t sure if it was the time I went, but I’m more of a person who like to see less of people and listen to less of unwanted noise when I’m on sober vacations especially where I’m trying really hard to find my soul

Calangute beach has many options for water sports, and with the current flood of tourists, this place is advisable only for water sports and not sunbathing or relaxing. And don't worry if you don't know to swim(like me), if you get cold feet to jump in the middle of the sea you can tell someone to give you a push(like I did) and they will be obliged to do so(They actually did)

The longest and the busiest beach of all, Calangute experiences the largest crowd among all the beaches. The beach is well know for sunbathing, water sports and mouth waterinf delicacies. The beach shacks are lighted up with trippy lights and soft music engulfs the whole beach. Shopaholics can will certainly beholden for the myriads of products sold here.

Goa is a place which everybody visits at least once a year. I have been to North Goa multiple times and have explored the beaches and shacks. This October (2016) I got a chance to visit Goa for a bachelorette party; I decided to arrive a day earlier than my friends and explore areas near Panjim on my own. I had already done my research and finalized my itinerary before arriving in Goa. I will reach the guesthouse at Calungute early morning, freshen up, have some breakfast and set out to explore the not so popular but beautiful places near Panjim.My planned itinerary for a day in GoaHave brunch in an authentic Goan restaurant in Panjim -&gt;Visit the UNESCO World Heritage sites in Old Goa -&gt; Take a ferry to Divar Island -&gt; Visit Piedado village and Church of Our Lady of Compassion -&gt; Enjoy the sunset and the river view at Vitorzen Jetty or go for a river cruise at Mandovi River.How I actually spent my day

We were a group of 8 people so we booked an apartment with Goa clarks which we found them through Google (http://goaclarks.com/). The place is amazing. Our flat was 3bhk and very very very spacious. Very close to Calangute Beach (2-3mins by a walk!) and a min away from main Calangute Market Road.We would party all night long, come back to apartment, use the swimming pool and sleep till midnoon. We would make our breakfast in our apartment kitchen (yes, we bought basic breakfast necessity from local supermarket which was right outside our apartment building!). We would then have our lunch at fancy local restaurant and then go out for sightseeing (forts and beaches!) only after 4pm as the sun was too bright and direct to do anything in mid afternoon!The evening it would get little pleasant and night little cold. Just perfect! January and February is the best season to visit Goa. Little less crowd (exam time in most schools in India so less indian families visiting, yay!), many firangs and pleasant climate!

Then I took a gentle walk in the Beach till I did not realize I had now reached the Calangute Beach. I remember the auto guy in the morning who left us till the hotel had told me there would be some Saturday market at Arpora and the crowd would come there and i could get to shop some fancy Goanese, Non-Goanese, junk stuff from there, so it was a must visit.Indeed, the market was one happening place that night with some cool band playing, and what more could you ask for especially when you are on a vacation! Live Music, Good Food, Cool People, Street Shopping!!! :)That was my first day ended quite well.. :)The morning was beautiful. This hotel that I was cribbing about yesterday suddenly turned to be one of my favorite places to stay in Goa since it was a Serene, Quiet, Peaceful, Sunny morning and I think that is why I was here, to experience all of this. Far from my daily hustle, finally I was here.Goa is one place that will give you the best experience of both Beach and Hills. It's Blue and Green both.The crowd is one you will never find anywhere in India. The culture too. It's one place which i could never imagine exist in a country like ours.

Next on the itinerary was the famous Souza Lobo at Calangute beach, 6.7kms away from our hotel. Opened since 1932, this seaside sea-food specialty place has sumptuous supply of sizzling, scrumptious, succulent Goan-style cooking. A must when you are on this side of Goa.

Without wasting much time, with our glasses on, we hit to Calangute Beach, One of the most happening beach in Goa. Nobody should get surprised if they don't get vehicle to park or to land their feet on the ground near the beach during weekend afternoon. It is like a mini kumbh mela. When you see the waves hitting the shores and the cool breeze constantly kissing your face, you would realise all the odd things you faced from the start till now was worth it for this moment.

Then we went to Canlangute beach one of the most crowded beach of Goa lots of streets shops around, but the beach as such is not the best of all. There are neither swaying palms nor are there any traditional boats lying there to add variety, but still it’s one of the most crowded beaches of Goa. We did little bit of street shopping, spent some at the beach and headed to Vagator beach.

North Goa is hub of tourist attraction due to various water sports and night life. Like all other tourists, I too put up in a hotel near Calangute Beach, though I had an urge to visit the less popular but more attractive South Goa Beaches.I have often heard people suggesting to go to North Goa since there are lot of fun activities, crowd and beaches in a row. Yet, I did an extensive search to look for some of the most beautiful beaches in Goa. To my surprise, I found some of the most serene and beautiful beaches are in South Goa. Could find that there were around 33 beaches.Beach Circuit would include the below beaches categorized into North and South Goa.North Goa:
Coco Beach
Sinquerim Beach
Candolim Beach
Calangute Beach
Baga Beach
Anjuna Beach
Vagator Beach
Morgim Beach
Mandrem Beach
Ashwem Beach
Arambol Beach
Kerri BeachSouth Goa:

Day 1: We checked in the hotel at 3 PM. Took some rest. Had our lunch. Then we hired a bike for local sightseeing at 250 INR per day. On our first day i.e. 1st December, we spent most our time on Calangute Beach, Restaurants nearby.

Goa and Kerala are similar in many ways...We felt like we are travelling in some place in Kerala itself..We stepped down at Panjim nd get inside the bus to Calangute..Its around 10 kms. We get down at calangute and from there we walked to our hotel-Mary Joey Villa. That walk was sooo amazing..Walking through the streetside with GPS on and looking at the map Mary Joey Villa..observing the goan architecture, observing the people...We felt sooo good...On the way, we had breakfast from one small restaurant...

It started with beach hopping. I rented an activa for just 300/- per day. (Best mode of transport in Goa). One full tank was enough for 3 days of non stop travel withing Goa. After breakfast, first stop was Baga beach, after exploring the beach I went to Calangute Beach. Calangute Beach is too touristy and crowded. Its good for water sports activity and the food served in the shacks along the beach is just awesome. Get yourself a beer and see the waves and feel the breeze. I also ride around and saw some beautiful houses, and tiny winding roads, the day also comprised of some window street shopping and getting to know the place closely. Driving and riding in Goa is very easy, thanks to google maps for guiding each way. While coming back to the hostel I visited this place called the Purple Martini at the sunset point in Anjuna. What a place this is. You can view the endless ocean and a beautiful sunset from the cliff. They have a beautiful interiors and a very decent menu which is super cheap. You can also select your fish and order it to cook. Here is the pic of the sunset from that place. It was a long day and I went back to my hostel to get some rest and be ready for the party at the most happening place. Its called Club Cabana . This place is magical and the music makes you high. 1000/- entry charge and then drinks are an the house. Decent deal. Day 2 ends with beach hopping and clubbing.

Visit Church of St. Francis of Assisi and the Basilica of Bom Jesus and get transported into 16th century. It is a historical city constructed by the Bijapur Sultanate in the 15th century, and served as capital of Portuguese India from the 16th century until its abandonment in the 18th century due to a plague. It is said to have once been a city of nearly 200,000 where from, before the plague, the Portuguese traded across continents. The remains of the city are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Old Goa is approximately 10 kilometers east of the state capital Panjim.

The Basilica of Bom Jesus or Borea Jezuchi Bajilika (Portuguese: Basílica do Bom Jesus) is located in Goa, India, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.[1][2] The basilica holds the mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier. The church is located in Old Goa, which was the capital of Goa in the early days of Portuguese rule.[3]
'Bom Jesus' (literally, 'Good (or Holy) Jesus') is the name used for the Ecce Homo in the countries of Portuguese colonization. The Jesuit church is India’s first minor basilica, and is considered to be one of the best examples of baroque architecture in India.

The Basilica is a UNESCO World Heritage site, so as you can imagine, it is impressive. It’s also very holy/creepy, depending on how you look at it – it has the mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier. A public viewing of the body is held every ten years. But apart from this, it’s a beautiful church. The altars are intricately worked, while the rest of the interiors are relatively simple. The floor is also gorgeously marbled. The church is over 400 years old.

One of the famous examples for the finest Baroque architectures in Goa, visiting the Basilica of Bom Jesus is one of the best things to do in the city of Goa. It has the mortal remains of St Francis Xavier and is considered to be one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The Basilica of Bom Jesus is one of the most important and popular church where people from all over the country visit. This church is considered even more sacred and important because it has the remain mortals of St Saint Francis Xavier. I saw the casket in which it's been kept. The body is kept at a good height and you cannot obviously get clear snapshots of it when you click from your camera as you get to see the body via screen. The church is very huge and the greenery surrounding the church looks pleasing.The crowd control is pretty decent here and the experience is just bliss. It's a moment of bliss. This is located in Old Goa. Just opposite to this place, the Royal Chapel of Saint Antony is situated which has beautiful white walls and architecture.

BASILICA OF BOM JESUS – one for art and architectural fanatics
The Bom Jesus Basilica, perhaps Goa's most famous church and among the most revered by Christians worldwide, is partially in ruins but still a model of simplicity and elegance, and a fine example of Jesuit architecture. Located at Old Goa, 10 kilometres east of Panaji, the Bom Jesus Basilica is a UNESCO World Heritage Monument. As much as Goa is about its beaches, it’s also about history, heritage and religion.

Our next destination was Basilica of Bom Jesus in old Goa. The basilica has its history dating back to 1605 and holds the mortal remains of St Francis Xavier. The architectural design and structure of the Basilica represents the Renaissance architecture and design and is fronted by a combination of Corinthian, Ionic and Doric design.

Basilica of Bom Jesus, Se Cathedral, Church of St Cajetan, Archaeological Museum, Church of St Francis Xavier, Church of St Francis of Assisi, Church of Our Lady of the Rosary and Viceroy's Arch are some of the popular and not so crowded places to see in Old Goa.After exploring the beautiful Churches and monuments in Old Goa, I followed the map drawn by Louis and drove towards a roundabout with Mahatma Gandhi Statue. I took second left turn from the roundabout and drove towards Do Monte Chapel of Mount Mary.

Goa is amazingly diverse for its size and yet there is a common thread that has an unmistakable stamp of Goan air. The Portuguese architecture is the first thing anyone notices which is strikingly different from the styles found in rest of India. Often painted with sunny yellows and sky-blue colours, the houses in Goa reminds one of a bygone colonial era. You'll hardly believe that 90 minutes away from the peaceful South Goan lush green landscape are the old 16th century Portuguese remnants of the colonial era in form of Basilica of Bom Jesus, where the mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier are kept , the Church of St. Francis of Assisi, the Church of Saint Cajetao and Our lady of Rosary Church.&nbsp;And an hour away from Old Goa is long stretch of sandy coastline renowned for its multitude of beaches. There's something on offer for everyone, from luxury resorts to makeshift huts, and trance parties to tranquility.&nbsp;

Five minutes from The Ruins is The Basilica of Bom Jesus. A UNESCO world heritage site, it holds the mortal remains of St Francis Xavier. A huge number of tourists pay a visit to the remains. The body is kept for a public display every 10 years, next will be in December 2024. The church is open everyday for public. Right opposite to the Basilica of Bom Jesus is the Church of Francis of Assisi. Built in 1661 by the Portuguese, the Church boasts a magnificent architecture.

Bom Jesus Basilica, Old Goa: This famous church was built in 1605 and is very significant as it holds the mortal remains of one of the patron Saints of Goa – St. Francis Xavier. St. Francis Xaviers body is put on display to the public every 10 years (last being 2014). A silver casket designed in the 17th Century holds the remains of this Saint.

The next day we had our flight to Hyderabad. I wanted to see the Old Goa church too. Its called the Basilica of Bom Jesus. I thought next day we would call our cab guy a little earlier and on the way, we would stop there and then head towards the Airport. But, that didn't happen! :( the cab broke down and the guy was late by almost forty five minutes. We had to skip that! I was sad. But my friend convinced me, he said, "let's leave somethings for our next trip." Yes, Next trip! He he.. All the more excited. The drive towards airport was another amazing thing. Goa is beautiful, indeed. Its different.Overall, the beaches are worth visiting. The beauty of the beach is Mesmerizing. The food, the ambience, the music, the crowd, the street shopping, the culture, the churches, its just not India. Or, you can say, its the other side of India.Goa again, for sure! :) Like the name suggest, the environment is absolutely green and so peaceful. A little far from the beach but a typical Holiday home. Recommended for people looking for a break from usual hustle and bustle of the city life.

Next we went to Basilica of Bom Jesus Church and Se Cathedral Church. The Bom Jesus Basilica, perhaps Goa's most famous church and among the most revered by Christians worldwide, is partially in ruins but still a model of simplicity and elegance, and a fine example of Jesuit architecture.This is the only church in Old Goa, which is not plastered on the outside, the lime plaster having been stripped off by a zealous Portuguese conservationist in 1950. Located at Old Goa, 10 kilometres east of Panaji, the Bom Jesus Basilica is a World Heritage Monument. Also there's a modern art gallery attached to the Basilica.The Se Catedral de Santa Catarina, known as Se Cathedral, is the cathedral of the Latin Rite Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Goa and Daman and the seat of the Patriarch of the East Indies. It is located in Old Goa. Se Cathedral is the largest church in Asia and is known for its giant bells and exquisite architecture. With a classical Iberian façade, the impressive Se Cathedral symbolized Portugal’s commitment to the Catholic Church as well as its overwhelming supremacy.

Located in Bardez, his fort rises above the Chapora River. This was a red laterite fort built by the Portuguese in place of an earlier Muslim structure in the 1th Century. It was then captured and again lost by a number of Hindu rulers before the Portuguese finally abandoned it in the year 1892. The main enemies of this fort were the Bahmani Sultans who were successful in capturing it and again later it was captured by the Marathas in the beginning of the 18th Cdentury. It was recaptured by the Portuguese to be taken back again by the Marathas. This battle went on for a long time after which the fort was absolutely deserted. At present, what we can see here are simply ruins of the fort and the heads of two tunnels. Regular buses from Anjuna and Mapusa can bring and take you back from here.

Located in Bardez, his fort rises above the Chapora River. This was a red laterite fort built by the Portuguese in place of an earlier Muslim structure in the 1th Century. It was then captured and again lost by a number of Hindu rulers before the Portuguese finally abandoned it in the year 1892. The main enemies of this fort were the Bahmani Sultans who were successful in capturing it and again later it was captured by the Marathas in the beginning of the 18th Cdentury. It was recaptured by the Portuguese to be taken back again by the Marathas. This battle went on for a long time after which the fort was absolutely deserted. At present, what we can see here are simply ruins of the fort and the heads of two tunnels. Regular buses from Anjuna and Mapusa can bring and take you back from here.

A beautiful and clean beach. There are hardly any shops here but maybe that is why it is so beautiful and uncorrupted. The Chapora Fort located on the hill located adjacent to the beach offers breathtaking view.

Its a must visit place in GOA. I did the first thing in the evening after reaching Goa. You will also get a Trekking Experience. This fort has also been shown in DIL CHAHTA HAI and from that day onwards people started calling it as “DIL CHAHTA HAI POINT”. From here you will get awesome view of Vagator Beach. Just sit here calmly and wait for sun to set. Its an amazing place.
Entry fee: NIL
How to Reach: Just 2 km from Vagator Beach
Recommended Length of Visit: 1 hr
Tips: Go in the Evening to witness the sunset; Breathtaking view of Vagator Beach.
Facts: This fort is also known as “DIL CHAHTA HAI POINT”

History :
Chapora Fort, located in Bardez, Goa, rises high above the Chapora River. Before the Portuguese arrived in Goa in 1510, this location was the site of another fort. The fort changed hand several times after Portuguese acquired Bardez. Trying to end the Portuguese rule in Goa, Prince Akbar joined his father’s enemies, the Marathas in 1683 and made this place his base camp. It became the northern outpost of the Old Conquests. After the Portuguese recovered from an encounter with the Marathas, they strengthened their northern defences and provided shelter to the people there.
The present fort was built in 1717, replacing the older fortifications. Across the Chapora river, the Hindu ruler of Pernem, the Maharaja of Sawantwadi who was an old enemy of the Portuguese held the fort for two years after it fell to the Marathas in 1739 in its first test. When Goa's border moved northwards with the acquisition of Pernem as part of the New Conquests, the fort lost its military significance towards the end of the century. It is a pleasant place to wander that offers fantastic views north across the Chapora river to Pernem, south over Vagator and also far out to the Arabian Sea in the West.
The fort sits on a prominent position which commands views in all directions. It also has steep slopes on all sides. The fort follows the outline of the higher slopes. This forms an irregular outer wall that uses the natural form to add defensive height to the fortifications. This offers an advantage over dry ditches being dug. At the top of the steep approach track, the main gate is small and unpretentious, but narrow and deep. Depending on defence requirements, the positions of bastions are irregularly spaced with enormous embrasures for cannon. Each bastion has a cylindrical turret offering a special character to the fort.
Vagator Beach with Fort Chapora in the background
Inside the fort, the church, once dedicated to St. Anthony, has disappeared and inside only a few signs exist of the barracks and housing that once filled this vast area. The wide expanse of open space is only a tumble of stones, where a few herds of goats graze and cashew bushes grow. A natural valley to the beach protected by rocky promontories provides an excellent natural access to the sea.
State : Goa
(Source : Wikipedia)

Chapora fort is a beautiful place and you can explore scenic beauty along with your passion for adventure. You can climb up mountain for a wonderful trek and thrilling experience. Visiting Chapora Fort is a memorable experience for me and my friends and is one of the most beautiful attractions in Goa.

I read about this place somewhere online. Although Aguada is more famous, this one must not be missed. This is an awesome place as its visited by fewer people and looks stunning in the rains. Everything was so green and it rained on and off here. The fort walls were covered with moss and i loved the panoramic views that this place offered.

CHAPORA FORT – one for history buffs
Remember the Bollywood movie- Dil Chahta Hai? Many of you might have longed to sit on the wall just like the actors. Well!! Fret not. It is the Chapora Fort. Despite being a major tourist attraction, the fort holds a historical significance as well. Dating back to 1717 and the Portuguese rule in Goa, this fort was built in place of an older fort on the same location after the Maratha-Portuguese war. Lying in ruins now, the fort was an attempt by the Portuguese to reinforce their stronghold over the Goan territory and prevent further conflicts. Surrounded by steep slopes and breath taking vistas of Pernem, Chapora River and the Vagator beach, Chapora Fort can leave one bewitched with its splendour.

Befor you realize 4 days are already gone by and its definately not a good feeling. Take some rest and in the evening do visit the famous forts of Goa, the Chapora fort(the dil chahta hai fort) will bring you to a different side of Goa with is raw untouched and away from the busy streets of Goa. Do watch the sun sink down in the sea waters . Its an amazing site. Well its now time to be back to business.

The next day, we were set to travel to north Goa. Tulsi Das ji was waiting for us and we left. Travelling with Tulsi Das ji, was a pleasure. The man in his mid forties, kept us entertaining with stories of Goa. We left Palolem and headed towards Chapora fort. It was a long ride and we reached Chapora fort by 11am. To my dislike I found the fort to be a bit crowded, but nevertheless the view was mesmerizing. The fort stood still surrounded by greenery and overlooking the Vagator beach.

The famous Chapora Fort is uphill Vagator. Leave your bike at the bottom and climb the hill to the fort. You get a 360 degree view from here. This place is most suited for the people who want some time alone. You can spend hours sitting here and wondering. Spend some quality time here and start moving again. Our next stop will be Anjuna. By the time we reach Anjuna, the Sun would have started its disappearance into the ocean. Watch the Sunset sitting on the deck of Curlies, this will be one of the most beautiful sights you ever witnessed.

On my check in at the hostel, I was greeted with more than happy smiles by foriegn travelers staying at the hostel, who were going to be my family for next 3 days. It was the beginning of a happy trip . For the next 3 days we all ate together , cooked together , washed dishes and clothes , explored hidden areas of vagator, swimming at the sunset, hill climbing to "Chapora fort" (((( See the pic below- The "Dil Chahta Hai" Fort , all Bollywood fans must be aware of this ))) to watch sunset , going to a psy trance party as a result of insomnia due to so much of sharing and travel stories !&nbsp;

After resting for a couple of hours we headed to Chapora Fort or more commonly known as the ‘Dil Chahta Hain’ fort. It was just 11 kms from our hotel and after parking at the base of the fort it was a 10 mins walk to the top. (Tip: Wear good sneakers, for guys and gals, with formidable grip as the path is full of small stones that make it slippery and slightly perilous).&nbsp;

Today we headed to Chapora fort the Famous Dil Chahta hai Fort, Chapora fort overlooking the sea make for an endearing sight. Now the fortress lies in ruins; however, the main incentive to climbing up here is the splendid view of nearby Anjuna and Vagator beaches. We spent some time there clicking few pics and enjoying the pleasant breeze and amazing view around the Fort.

There’s something truly magical about Goa during the monsoon. The rainy season means that Goa is taking a break from the busy tourist season and this is a perfect opportunity for you to put your feet up along with the locals as well. Take a lengthy siesta, or a rainy walk along the beach. If there's adventure on your mind then hike up to Fort Chapora (of Dil Chahta Hai Fame) and watch raindrops crashing into the ocean. If it’s relaxation on your mind, then sit in your balcony and enjoy the rainfall along with a hot cup of coffee and a book.Do a cartwheel at the beach and slump on your face because there wouldn’t be anyone to see you!

There’s something truly magical about Goa during the monsoon. The rainy season means that Goa is taking a break from the busy tourist season and this is a perfect opportunity for you to put your feet up along with the locals as well. Take a lengthy siesta, or a rainy walk along the beach. If there's adventure on your mind then hike up to Fort Chapora (of Dil Chahta Hai Fame) and watch raindrops crashing into the ocean. If it’s relaxation on your mind, then sit in your balcony and enjoy the rainfall along with a hot cup of coffee or beer and a book.

Anjuna is firstly the name of a village and is one of the places where the earliest Hindus came and settled down. There is also the church of St. Micheal over here which is another major attraction besides the flea market of Anjuna. Coming to the beach of Anjuna, this is not a very crowded beach but is still quite a popular one. The crowd is of mostly foreigners and so you can expect a different surrounding than you find in other beaches or the ones in Mumbai or South India. You can enjoy swimming as well as water sports here and it is also a perfect place for picnics and get togethers.

Anjuna is firstly the name of a village and is one of the places where the earliest Hindus came and settled down. There is also the church of St. Micheal over here which is another major attraction besides the flea market of Anjuna. Coming to the beach of Anjuna, this is not a very crowded beach but is still quite a popular one. The crowd is of mostly foreigners and so you can expect a different surrounding than you find in other beaches or the ones in Mumbai or South India. You can enjoy swimming as well as water sports here and it is also a perfect place for picnics and get togethers.

A beautiful beach where hippies can be easily spotted but the local flea market is over hyped. There isn't much worth buying . But make no mistake, the place is heavenly. It has cleaner water compared to other beaches and plenty of restaurants around to have food, mainly sea food. If you do not like sea food, good luck finding something else worth eating!

Anjuna Beach: 8/10
Known for its famous shack ‘curlies’ by the beach but we tried the one of the cafes on the cliff only cos we never found our way to the flat surface of the beach. Either ways, ordered for everything(pancakes & steaks) that was available in the menu cos in a couple of hours it was going to be a ‘goodbye’ to Goa.

Famous for its flea market all around the world. Go, do some shopping.
And bargain like a Delhiite...lol
I found the beach good as i got some good photographs there. Otherwise i don't know why people love it so much.
If you are here...don't miss Curlies... see some druggy action over there. Roll a J... and get lost into the trip. Curlies is the way to go my friends. Cheers!

Well after a long night(actully morning) do remember to sleep. Well if you do get up at luch time there is this small quircky place you got to visit for one of the best Burgers Goa has to offer, its called Burger Factory. Have a generous meal of the big burger , tangy mayo and crunchy chips. After that Visit the city shop for Kajus. In the evening you can visit the flee markets for some casual shopping. Int he night do not forget to visit the beach. Beaches are totally a new experiance at night. If you have the oppertunity do participate in the open air parties on the beach

These are some typical party joints famous in North Goa and can be places in your to do list other than the usual Club Cabana.Word of advice - would recommend visiting Condolim for the sunset.I am sure the aftermaths of the party scenes which includes some pole crashing, dog cuddling and a lot of other things wouldn’t interest you, so let’s jump to Day 2!Day 2 - Trip to Dudhsagar Falls

One of the most popular beach among Foreign travelers, Anjuna is known for its calm waters and shacks on the beach. The best shacks of Goa are on the Anjuna Beach – Curlies, Shiva Valley, Cafe Liliput to name a few. These shacks are quite popular among Bohemians and are built next to each other. One can easily sense a Hippy culture running on the beach. There is a party going on everyday in one of the shacks. Barring New Year and Specials there is no entry charge for these places. The atmosphere remains quite much the same till dawn, and this is when the crowd start retreating to their places. Its time to get back to bed and get a good sleep. A new day will bring new adventures.

The next part of the trail takes you through the Anjuna beach. There is a narrow mud trail on the hill. Just follow the trail as it takes you into the village, the beach will be on your left. Find any lane that leads you to the beach and just walk north along the beach till it ends and there is flight of stairs which leads you towards the village. Alternatively you can walk through the village. The beach is much better though. For directions, just ask anyone how to reach the parking lot.

Wednesday Flea Market at Anjuna Beach is a stretch of road with colourful clothes shops, spices, lamps, and other small souvenirs like bongs, stone elephants,etc. It is an experience, but you can give it a miss if you are going to visit the Saturday night Market at Arpora. At night, I simply strolled to the beach which is a ten-minute walk from the hostel, and there are always parties happening in one or the other shacks. Avoid long weekends,as they cause the beach to get horribly crowded. Sundowns are magical, as they are universally. You can relax in one of the shacks, and watch the sun go down the horizon, staining the sands, flecking the sea with gold, and couples in silhouette.

We spent some time at Baga beach and then we headed for Anjuna beach.The lunch treat was at the Curlies, another awesome place in Goa. Anjuna is a little less crowded as compared to Baga and Calangute. I had heard so much about this place again, that i couldn't afford to not visit. The food again was absolutely awesome. I was hungry. (Ok, m hungry all the time!) But, not because of that the food was actually good. If you are here, you must try the Chicken wings and Fish fingers.Second day, well spent again.

After landing we went to our hotel relaxed for some time and hired a self drive Bike and headed to Anjuna Beach, One of the most popular sea beaches because of its night Parties, Curlies and other good eating joints, peaceful seashore, with chilled beer and good music in nearby restaurants and flea markets. We enjoyed the sunset there and spent the whole evening at curlies very famous beach Shack of Goa. * Renting two wheeler in Monsoon may cost somewhere between Rs.200 to Rs.250 a day*Anjuna is situated 21 km north of Panjim and 7 km from Baga.* Anjuna Flea Market every Wednesday (Must Visit)* Curlies most famous Shack in Anjuna, Shiva Valley Shack next to Curlies has Trance night every Tuesday Day 2Today we hired a Four Wheeler as it was raining and travelling by a two wheeler becomes difficult in rain.

Although Anjuna is a small village in Goa, its fame has travelled far and wide making it one of the most preferred places to visit in Goa. As much as this town is known for the St Michael’s Church, it is known for its flea market as well. Popularized by hippies, the flea market came into being during their time.Mapusa Friday Market

Arambol (also known as Harmal) gained prominence in the 1960s. Being a non-commercialized beach, one can look forward to peace and serenity here in the lap of nature without the mayhem of uncountable tourists. There is affordable accommodation here in the little huts near the cliff side. This is also a favorite hangout place for the hippies, which makes us encounter a completely offbeat and rare culture. Being thronged by fewer tourists does not mean that this beach is in any way inferior to the commercialized ones. There are shopping opportunities provided by numerous stalls that operate around the clock and occupy the entire stretch of the beach road. All in all, Arambol provides the traveler both the serenity to soak in the extravagance of a pristine beach along with all the facilities like accommodation, food and shopping.

Arambol (also known as Harmal) gained prominence in the 1960s. Being a non-commercialized beach, one can look forward to peace and serenity here in the lap of nature without the mayhem of uncountable tourists. There is affordable accommodation here in the little huts near the cliff side. This is also a favorite hangout place for the hippies, which makes us encounter a completely offbeat and rare culture. Being thronged by fewer tourists does not mean that this beach is in any way inferior to the commercialized ones. There are shopping opportunities provided by numerous stalls that operate around the clock and occupy the entire stretch of the beach road. All in all, Arambol provides the traveler both the serenity to soak in the extravagance of a pristine beach along with all the facilities like accommodation, food and shopping.

Move on to Arambhol beach. This is not for regular folks. This is where you close your eyes, inhale deep, with the wise man whispering the secrets of the universe to you as you float down into consciousness, trying to remember as much as possible

Arambol Beach is located in the northern most part of Goa.
It is among the most beautiful beaches of Goa and if you are in the mood of relaxation and want to spend a couple of days at a secluded yet beautiful and clean beach..Head towards Arambol..

this beach is one of the lesser known beaches of goa and that is why it is more beautiful than the rest.
I spent a whole day here just chilling and relaxing, they have the best sea food here very fresh, and all kinds of drinks as well
you can have an awesome time here by just sitting on the beach getting tanned while having cold beers!

This beach is different as it has a sweet water lake on its shore. Just sit on the sand of Arambol beach and lose yourself in its captivating beauty. The sand is soft and white with little cottages on the red slopes, rocks in some places and the approach road lined with shacks offering souvenirs and clothes. At one end of it runs the Tiracol River and beyond the river rises the Tiracol Fort, now an interesting little hotel.

Day 2Its a new day. Don’t start early. After a good sleep and breakfast, Brittos is recommended again, it’s time to ride. Our first destination of Day 2 is Arambol Beach, the last developed beach of Goa towards north. This beach is more popular among the foreign travelers specially The Russians and British and a very few Indian travelers visit this beach. Spend some quality time in peace on the beach. Eat some of the best sea food available in Goa and this is the place to shop. Due to scarcity of Indian Crowd here, you have plenty of time to check the stuff and bargain. In any cafe or shack nearby, you can indulge into a conversation with a random stranger and keep talking for hours over beer. If you are staying long in Goa, prefer renting a place in Arambol. The beach is amazing and a dip in water will be refreshing and relaxing. Grab something to eat from any shack on the beach and start travelling south of Arambol.

ConclusionI personally think that extreme sport like paragliding is something that all of us should try at least once in our lifetime. It’ll tingle your worldview and your senses after you do it. After all, when you’ve just spent the last few minutes of your life seeing the world pass by you, you can’t help but have some perspective shift in terms of how you see things, even if unconsciously.

So the plan was to get to Arambol beach to watch the sunset and oh what a drive it was! We lost our way did more than a couple of extra kilometres on the wrong way and then raced the sun to make it on time. Make it we did, with time to spare, but my companion lamented it was not the same beach that he had wanted to show me. Anyway, that did not stop us from sitting at yet another shack on the beach to enjoy some local port wine.

It was our last day we as usual got up late and left for Arambol Beach long unexplored beach surrounded by cliffs on two sides, with a Fresh Water lake and chirpy markets nearby, Arambol is considered to be one of the best beaches in Goa, A short walk to the north takes you to several attractive bays, the most famous among which is the sweet water lake.Later in the Evening we went to LPK (Love passion and Karma) one of the most famous club in Goa, the entrance of the club is magnificent and insane but the club is little hyped and I personally don’t like the place much. But one should go there at least once to see the Entrance and the exteriors of the club. LPK has Cover charges to enter into the club, But if you just want to go to click some pics of the exterior and Entrance you can just do that also as its before the club entry gate.We ended our Night at St. Anthony’s Shack in Baga, I love this place there’s something special about this place... it rocks!! *Arambol Beach is located 50km north of Panjim*In Arambol Beach there are few shacks and have lots of dogs.*LPK entry varies between Rs.1500 to Rs.3000, many a times they don’t allow stags We Just Visited North Goa this time, South Goa is comparatively much silent but have much better and clean beaches than North Goa. North Goa is Party Hub of Goa. It is preferable to Visit Goa between the month of October to March, in monsoon most of the places are close or under Renovation. Other places to see or Visit it in North Goa (Which we missed): Beaches*Keri Beach or Kerim Beach is located 58 km north of Panaji*Mandrem beach the white sand beach is located 32 km north of Panaji*Ashwem Beach Markets*Saturday Night Market Arpora*BiCholim the hub of potteryHangouts*Sinq Beach Club got famous from Sun burn after party at Sinquerium Beach* Waters, Hill top, Nyex, 9Bar etc at Vagator Beach*Club Cabana Arpora Beach* Casinos MV Caravela, Casino Pride etc Tips:*If you in North Goa stay at Baga or Calangute beach the party hub but crowded, if you want a less crowded place then Sinquerium or Anjuna Beach also a good option*Take self driven car or Two wheelers, easy to commute and less expensive as compared to Taxis*Always carry one dress with you as its coastal area so you sweat a lot or you have go in the sea and sometimes is difficult to go to the hotel back and change*Carry Shades and Sun Screen*most of the club follow club rules like pants and shoes are compulsory*Cops are helpful, be polite and don’t argue with them you can get yourself in trouble* Do not keep your valuables unattended during your stay at the beach.*There are Many Tattoo Studios select a good and hygienic one Goa never cease to surprise you, it has everything to offer suiting your taste from overcrowded place to deserted beaches, Young bubbly crowd to matured subtle people, Loud trance/EDM clubs to Silent Shacks, Shopping, Churches, Adventure Sports, Art Galleries, Spas etc... I can never get bored of Goa, Goa ....is Fun Unlimited!!

A small beach in North- Goa, this is a flat beach and perfect for swimming. It is not as popular or crowded compared to many other beaches of the state and especially northern Goa, but is still a favourite of many tourists. There are also water activity options available here but these are not that good compared to the ones at the Sinquerim Beach in the same region. This is often a beach which misses the eye when you are busy visiting the busier beaches of Baga, Calangute and such others.

A small beach in North- Goa, this is a flat beach and perfect for swimming. It is not as popular or crowded compared to many other beaches of the state and especially northern Goa, but is still a favourite of many tourists. There are also water activity options available here but these are not that good compared to the ones at the Sinquerim Beach in the same region. This is often a beach which misses the eye when you are busy visiting the busier beaches of Baga, Calangute and such others.

Already famous at the Saturday Night Market in Anjuna, the Boutique Bar is now also at the intimate but vivacious hotel in Vagator. The cosy bar features new cocktails and high-energy parties that are complemented by mouth-watering grilled snacks at Salaam, the Living Room’s Indo-Arabic restaurant. Set just off the pool where you can enjoy the crisp sunshine before heading off for an evening of fun and entertainment. The Boutique House Bar also has live music and DJs that spin some interesting tracks through the night.

A rocky beach... After you finish having your fun at this beach, don't leave. Trust me, there's is a heaven next to it which you must see. Walk some hundreds of meters through the beach and you will reach another beach known as Ozra/Chhota Vagator beach.
Beautiful resorts at the beachside... the least crowded, cleanest beach of goa with rocks of different kind... i reached here the last evening of my trip and regretted a lot about not coming there before. A must go for couples and solo people. Nothing like this beach. Atleast for me and my love... This was the most romantic and exotic place. I would love to go there again and again.

Moving back from Arambol towards Vagator, make a stop at Morjim. Known as “Little Russia” Morjim has a large concentration of Russian Immigrants.The beach is amazing and is a nesting and hatching habitat of the preserved Olive Ridley Sea Turtle. If you are a turtle enthusiast, Morjim will offer you something special in form of Olive Ridley. Grab couple of Beer and chill on the beach or Hill top, you would not want to leave the peace this place will offer. Moving south, our next destination is Vagator. Famous for the hill top parties and the World Famous “Sunburn“, Vagator host some of the best EDM parties in India. The view from the Hill top is amazing and the beach is less crowded unless there is a party nearby.&nbsp;

Solo backpacking in Vagator turned out to be my best travel so far, and the day of departure from the hostel to other side of Goa where I had planned to spent rest of the days , made me sad ! So I guess it would be now apt for me to say that - It's not the number of days you spend as a traveler ,it's the number of memories you make and how much you grow as a traveler , that make's you a different person !! I made memories I can't do justice to by expressing , I made friends for life, I learnt about cultures that no book would have taught, I reckoned the power of simplicity and nature... So pack you rugsacks, wear your boots, pick up some cash and a book , and get started with the journey of exploration ! For world has more than what you can ever take !!!!! INFO TIME :Tariff at Jungle Hostel: Rs. 500 / night in mixed bed dorm room ( 4 to 6 beds) . Jungle Hostel bookingInclusions : Bed ( obviously) , Attached Bathroom ( Hot water supply) , Spacious room , Personal Luggage lockers, Breakfast , Kitchen ( To kill mid night hunger pangs) , A stocked refrigerator in the common room ( Tons of beers !!! ) , wifi connectivity, and not to forget - THE VIEW and the COMPANY of fellow travelers .... Was it Worth it ??? HELL YES !!!!!!!!

At the parking lot continue to head north towards the direction of Vagator and ask for the water tank. You will cross a newly opened club which is located bang at the parking lot. This club is spelled 'Nyce'. You will see some small trees and then the trail again leads you to the top of a small hill. Walk up the trail till you reach the hilltop. This hilltop offers the first view of the Chopara Fort in the distance. There is a clear mud trail here and walk along it till you cross 'Bliss Beach Resort' and 'Thalasa'. From this point just ask anyone how you can reach the beach or consult Google maps and it will show you the route to the Vagator beach. Get to the beach and continue north till you reach the lifeguard station. A short walk further you have arrived at the foothills of the fort. There is no marked trail. You can just start walking up the cliff. It is not too steep. Once you are up the cliff you will see the walls of the fort. This is the destination. Awesome views of beaches on both sides. And you are not too far away from a shack to get some chilled beer.......Enjoy the hike.One of the busiest beaches in North Goa, this is the starting point of the hike.The first major beach/village that one reaches upon starting the hike.Second beach on the trail from where it is an easy access to the fort.The destination.

j) Drove to Vagator beach for a good strollk) Drinks at Nine bar amidst good trans music and dinner at restaurant (don't remember the name) right next to Nine Barl) Drove to Sinq club (Opp. Taj Holiday Village), Candolim, for a pool party Day 3(Saturday) a) Morning at Baga beach. Breakfast at one of the shacks at the beachb) Lunch at Zuperb restaurant, Calangute. Nice food. c) Drove to Assagao/Siolim and checked church and the beach. d) Drove to Penha De France to see the churche) Drove to "Paper Boat Collective" for nice collections to buy. Shop is at Sangolda at Penha De Franca, Chogm Road. We couldn't locate the shop easily. Skip it if you do not have enough timef) Back to Baga for evening beach strollg) Dinner at Chef Soumyen's Kitchen at Calangute then moved to Saturday Night Market at Arpora. This market is a must visit if you are in Goa on Saturday night.h) Drove to Club Cabbana for staurday night Day 4a) Morning stroll at Baga beachb) Checked out of the hotel at around 10 amc) Drove to old Goa ferry terminal and took a ferry to Divar Island. Nice walk amidst portuguese era buildingsd) Lunch at Old Goae) Saw Viceroy's Arch, St. Cajetan church, Se Cathedral, St. Francis of Assisi church and Basilica of Bom Jesuse) Drove to Pilar f) Back to Panjim. Returned the car. g) Took a night bus to Bangalore

It is better you reach early at the venue so that you can find parking easily at the appropriate location
Sunburn finishes by 12-1 AM, post which you can go to any of the after-parties which are happening at different locations/beaches. In 2014, venue was Vagator Beach. As soon as sunburn finishes, there will be hell loads of traffic outside. It took us almost 2.5 hours to reach our hotel on Candolim beach from Vagator. And since almost everyone present in Sunburn is completely sloshed, people prefer reaching here by cars with drivers. Therefore, roads are completely blocked. It is advisable to either hire a 2-wheeler but only if the person driving it will be sober enough or try to exit the venue few minutes before the climax (but best performances are saved for end of the day only!)
Drinks of sponsored brands will only be served. So very limited options in terms of booze are available. In 2014, it was only Vodka of Smirnoff and Beer of Kingfisher premium. Food is generally good but costly
Don’t even think of carrying your own booze, food items, cigarettes, water bottles or any illegal stuff while entering as you will be thoroughly scanned (I am not aware of any backdoor entries!)
And yes whether you love it or not you will get to hear only and only trance music! But when you are high on booze, partying along your friends and everyone else around you seems to enjoying it then it won’t really matter what kind of music is getting into your ears!
It’s a general notion that Sunburn is swarming with people and you don’t even have space to step your foot, leave alone the dancing! Well, believe me it is not true at all. It’s a huge venue to accommodate hordes of party people so you will have enough space to dance, sit, lie down and roam around. It is advisable to stay close with your group and decide a common meeting point amongst yourself in case of any kind of unfortunate situations like phone got switched off or lost, etc.
All in all it was an awesome experience. 3 days of complete partying and relaxing. Partying through the night, sleeping till noon, then lazing in the shacks on beaches, roaming around and back to partying! That’s what our routine was for those 3 days! Whole Goa is in party mood during that time. I have been to Goa before many times but during Sunburn it has completely different vibes! I highly recommend experiencing it once in a lifetime if you love partying in Goa!

Once you reach the top, it is a barren land with most of the walls of the forts filled with people admiring the Vagator beach on the left and the much secluded Morjim beach on the right. Sun gave us the skip that day much to our disappointment as we were looking forward to becoming philosophical and to see the sun go down on the horizon.

Vagator beach adjoining Anjuna is secluded, crescent shaped and situated on the Caisua bay along the Chapora river basin, in the shadow of Chapora fort, one of a favourite venue for mid night parties. We have spent some time there and went to one of the club in Vagator. Thalasa Restaurant , Greek style restaurant in Vagator is a upscale place and a perfect place to have few drinks while sunset, Ambiance is very simple yet beautiful, be ready to shell-out few more as it’s a little expensive place but a must visit. * Sinquerim Beach is located 13 km north of Panaji *Calangute is located 15 kms from Panjim and 2 km from Baga.* At times this Calangute–Baga road is Goa’s worst traffic jam. * Vagator is located 21 km north of Panaji near Anjuna* Thaslasa is Close during Monsoon* Vagator has lot of good Pubs and lounges like Waters, Hill top, Nyex etc most of them are upscale, crowd here is also upscale as most of them are expensive places Day 5

I greatly prefer it to most places ‘on the beach’, with the exception of Rockheart, the beachside retreat of late adman Frank Simoes and his family, which is nestled in a quiet nook of Mandolin beach. It’s remarkable how much of the original Goa experience remains intact behind the tall boundary walls of this truly private villa experience – it has only three rooms to let.

k) Drove to LPK club near Candolim. Ambience is nice and music is cdecent. g) Back to hotel for a good night sleep. Day 2 (Friday)a) Drove to Mapusa for morning market b) Drove to Querim- about 45 min drive from mapusac) Explored Querim for sometime and then took a ferry to Tiracol villaged) Explored the fort (was once converted to hotel but not anymore) e) Drove to Arambol to explore the beachf) Lunch at Fellini Italiana restaurant (pretty cheap) , Arambol

This time I decided to go to condolim,north Goa. I have experienced solitude of south Goa and chaotic north Goa like Baga,Calangute. This time I decided to stay towards Candolim as I never stayed in that part of Goa and also its not as crowded as other parts of north Goa.

Few days prior to my travel plans, I read an article about Lemon tree groups and their policy of adopting stray dogs. I read about all of their stray dogs adopted across the country and living in lemon tree properties as a part of it. I instantly fell in love with lemon tree groups as I am a big time dog lover. When this travel plan was shaping in my mind, I just tried Googling about Lemon tree properties in Goa. To my luck, I found their property, exactly where I wanted. Without a second thought, I booked Lemon tree Amarante Beach Resort Condolim, north Goa. I also got a great deal and I booked directly from their website.

Resort is located on main road and also just few minutes walk to the Candolim beach. Very well maintained property and every corner of the property has a Goan essence. Rooms are pretty small but loaded with all amenities inside. I was given a superior room and it also had an access to back yard.Spacious pool is one of the plus points here. I spent my entire birthday afternoon here, swimming and drinking lots of beer sitting in pool bar.Over all my stay at Lemon Tree Amarante Beach Resort was satisfactory. Staff were courteous and very well trained. Lemon Tree groups gives an employment opportunites to disabled people. I was very touched by this noble side of lemon tree group. Being a daughter of a disabled father, I understand the difficulty they go through everyday life. All they want is just an opportunity to overcome their weakness and lead normal life among everyone. I salute lemon Tree group for this noble act. I left one of my electronic item in room and I remembered about it after reaching Bangalore. I tweeted about it to lemon tree group, with in no time I got a call from Goa hotel staff and helped me out. As promised they sent it to Bangalore branch. I have'nt found time to go to their Bangalore branch hotel to pick it up. Hope I do it soon.

So we started searching for hotels in North Goa on Cleartrip.com and stumbled upon Ruffles Beach Resort, Candolim Beach. Its tariff was Rs. 6000 per night per room as per the website. But we bargained and closed the deal at Rs. 3000!! It had neat and clean, hygienic rooms with 2 swimming pools. The best thing about this hotel was its walking distance and easy accessibility to Candolim beach. Only bad thing was its highly pathetic food! But still we were very happy and relieved to find this one!Some tips regarding booking tickets for Sunburn festival:
Sunburn generally lasts for minimum 3 days. There are different kinds of tickets available on Bookmyshow.com like daily passes, Passes for all days, after party tickets, etc. Then there are early-entry passes as well which are cheaper but you have to enter the arena by 2-3 PM and re-entry is also restricted. We bought a pass valid for whole festival (3-day pass) in which entry or re-entry was permitted for through out the day and also allowed to attend 1 of the after-parties (whichever were valid with this pass)
You can buy these tickets and passes at the venue also but availability is limited and also if you buy well in advance it will cost you cheaper!
Food and drink coupons can also be booked through BMS and its better you do it. We bought them at the venue at higher rates!
In case of people having VIP passes, there is a separate raised platform erected in middle of grounds where food and drinks are also served. Honestly, I did not find this as an advantage over the regular passes since real fun of enjoying such festivals is when you mingle with all of the mad crowd. Moreover this VIP lounge had only posh uncles and aunties drooling over each other!
Some other tips:

Goa is a place where the call rings out as the best tourist location in the country, and Goa uniquely has something to offer to every age group. Limited our stay to North Goa, and it was worth every second to be there. Candolim, Calangute &amp; Baga, the Indian and crowded beaches, but the food on the shacks was just as good as the ones in town. (may be we were really lucky to hit the right places) Goa also is teaming with tattoo parlours at every nook and corner, and there are certainly some good ones. Got an elaborate tattoo inked at the Tattoo parlour at Brittos. All in all ... super fun :)Baga beach ... what's more to say but do visit Brittos for some lovely ambience, good food, nice music by the sea

Apart from usual stuff, I was looking for something different. I don't know about other folks but for me it was too crowded &amp; commercialized (both Candolim &amp; Baga beaches ). However I enjoyed a bit of water sports (Parasailing &amp; Deep dive).

Goa - India's only spot where the bathing-season is on, 365 days a year. It is supposed to be visited with friends for booze and beaches, but as it turned out I booked tickets on a whim, because I wanted to go solo. And, it turned out pretty good! I booked budget hostels, not because I was on budget but because I was travelling alone and would need companions to go visit places or just hang out with. I didn’t want to do a whirlwind tour stretching from North Goa to South Goa, so I only picked two places to fully immerse myself in – Anjuna and Candolim. I avoided Baga on rule as it is very crowded.

Regarding the Aguada fort, it was constructed in 1612 to guard against the Dutch and the Marathas. It was a reference point for the vessels coming from Europe at that time. This old Portuguese fort stands on the beach south of Candolim, at the shore of the Mandovi River. It was initially tasked with defense of shipping and the nearby Bardez sub district. The sea view form the fort is worthy. Dil Chahta Hai movie is shot in this Fort.

Took a ferry, because the bridge the LP said would be finished by 2012, isn't finished.Managed to find the Portuguese fort, Cabo de Rama, without any u-turns! Made of laterite bricks, too, and much more larger though we didn’t linger here long.

Took a ferry, because the bridge the LP said would be finished by 2012, isn't finished.Managed to find the Portuguese fort, Cabo de Rama, without any u-turns! Made of laterite bricks, too, and much more larger though we didn’t linger here long.

Cabo De Rama Fort was built before the Portugese even settled in Goa. It isn't a very large fort and most of it is now in ruins. A small church still stands and I believe they still hold mass there once a week. Even though there isn't too much of the fort left to see, the views from there are spectacular. The fort is a little out of the way and thankfully not very crowded so you will get your peace and quiet. We reached there in time for sunset and after walking for around half an hour, found a perfect spot to watch the sunset. The north-eastern side of the fort is more easily accessible from the entry, but walk around a bit and find the western facing wall. Then enjoy the sunset, because it is beautiful.

1)Caba Da Rama Fort:I wanted to do the Palolem beach, but the manager suggested the fort. And I’m glad I heeded his advice. The view from the fort is simply WOW. The entry to fort is free and it closes by 6 pm. As you come out of the fort, there are fields and in midst of the field you will find a beautiful spot to view the ocean.

Our first destination was Cabo De Rama Fort. The fort once claimed by the Portuguese and witnessed many battles now stand with a rickety structure and rusted canons. The view from the fort was simply breathtaking. The overcast sky and the endless sea with the quietness seemed cast a spell and I was left spellbound.

Cabo-de-rama (3-5pm): We rode down from Madgao further south to Cabo-de-rama via Varca, Carmona and Velin. On my last visit, I found this to be a “must-visit-again” place. Stopped by a small beer shop just before the fort to grab a quick bite and a pint of beer, Gazed at the sea from the top of the fort, an isolated place, very few people turn up here, mainly locals.

Inside the Cabo de Rama Fort, there is the church of Santo Antonio which is in excellent condition and is still used by devotees. The white church and the black fort provide a photographic picture of stark contrast. The fort provides majestic views of the entire length of Colva beach and the Canacona stretch. The view from the ramparts of the fort is truly breathtaking!

After having our lunch at a nearby restaurant, we continued going northwards to a distant Fort Cabo De Rama around 15 kms from Agonda. Again after a pleasant and scenic journey, we reached the Fort. The fort looked like it was built by the Portuguese to keep a watch as the fort compound was pretty small consisting of a small church and a tower. It could have been considered a decent location but once we reached the top of the tower, we were again pleasantly surprised as the view from the top of Cabo de Rama formed another marvelous picture! That view was simply breathtaking which we couldn't find anywhere else in Goa during the whole trip and its difficult to describe that so I'll just post a picture of it below.

Stuff to do there:Make sure you visit Cabo De Rama. The place is beyond beautiful and the drive there is even better. Take the route from Colva and you there's a point where you can only see the ocean.

After having our lunch at a nearby restaurant, we continued going northwards to a distant Fort Cabo De Rama around 15 kms from Agonda. Again after a pleasant and scenic journey, we reached the Fort. The fort looked like it was built by the Portuguese to keep a watch as the fort compound was pretty small consisting of a small church and a tower. It could have been considered a decent location but once we reached the top of the tower, we were again pleasantly surprised as the view from the top of Cabo de Rama formed another marvelous picture! That view was simply breathtaking which we couldn't find anywhere else in Goa during the whole trip and its difficult to describe that so I'll just post a picture of it below.

The beach consists of about 25kms of the fine powdered white sand and is bounded along its coast by coconut palms that stretch from Bogmalo in the north to Cabo de Rama in the south along south Goa's coastline.Its a standard, gorgeous South Goa beach. Sandy beach, life-guard is on duty, there are dangerous rip-tides to watch out for, good clean warm waters, spectacular sunsets, Working fishermen and their boats on the north end of the beach...Plenty of shops around...We reached Colva beach at around 6.00pm..Luckily we could see sun hiding in the ocean..Just like our mind where within couple of hours we gona say goodbye to this lively Goa..We walked a little along the sea side..Our heart was weeping inside..Oh yaar...we are going back from this place..from this city where party never ends...Back to our schedules..Tensions and Stress...We bought some sweets for our friends and family...The shopkeeper told 'Bebinca' is the most famous sweet in Goa..and we all bought 3-4 packets...Finally We reached Madagaon station and waved goodbye to Madagaon and entered the train...After having dinner, we all slept and once we wake up in the morning, we reached Kerala..Once we returned back to our office, many people got inspired by our trip and they all were excited once we told the stories to them..We got many feedbacks from our friends like we really motivate them and proved that 'Nothing is Impossible if we have passion to the thing we do'..If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader..ow...GO...GOA...GONE....Finally, Goa is a flood of memories, of thrills and of images.Even after returning from Goa, I can still taste the salt on my lips... feel the sand between my toes...smell the Goan spices...hear the waves as they crash....see the footprints left behind and know the joy of living....The whisper of the wind...waves that froth as they collapse at your feet...nights under the stars......seashells that carry the sound of the ocean...the glorious colours of light as the sun sets into the sea...the warmth of waters that envelop you...horizons that stretch forever...Come to Goa...and get in touch with yourself again...Feel Lively....In the end..it's not the years in your life that count, Its the life in your years.!Follow Your Dreams...Be Happy..Do Good and Stay Healthy...

Built in the year 1619, this church looks unique because of its design which is like a Christian Wedding Cake. The church was built by the Portuguese by replacing what was an even bigger church. The previous church was built in the 16th Century. Over the years there have been many additions and beautifications made to this church and this is also one reason for which it stands steady whereas the main church of Goa is almost in ruins in spite of being built in the 18th Century. This was earlier the place where the sailors from Lisbon used to halt and pray to thank the lord for their safety and then head towards Ela in the North Goa.

Built in the year 1619, this church looks unique because of its design which is like a Christian Wedding Cake. The church was built by the Portuguese by replacing what was an even bigger church. The previous church was built in the 16th Century. Over the years there have been many additions and beautifications made to this church and this is also one reason for which it stands steady whereas the main church of Goa is almost in ruins in spite of being built in the 18th Century. This was earlier the place where the sailors from Lisbon used to halt and pray to thank the lord for their safety and then head towards Ela in the North Goa.

The Church of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception is at Church square in Panjim. It is among Goa's earliest churches built in the mid 16th century. It was completely rebuilt in 1619.
The massive bell atop the church was constructed in Portugal and was originally at St Augustine's Church (which I have reviewed separately). After the St Augustine's church collapsed, the bell was kept at the Fort Aguada Lighthouse for a while and then in the 1870s brought to this church.
The Panjim Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception is placed on the hillside and just high above the Idalco Palace built by Adil Shah.

This church is very much famous among Bollywood. if any movie will shot in Goa then this Church is mandatory to show. Featured in Josh, Mujhse Shadi Karogi, Ajab Prem Ki Gazab Kahani. This is really a Master Piece and a must visit church in Old Goa.
Entry fee: NIL
How to Reach: 9 kms from Basilica of Bom Jesus(Old Goa)
Recommended Length of Visit: 1 hr
Tips: Go in the evening- around 3-4 pm
Facts: Featured in many Bollywood Films.

One of the oldest churches in Goa and dating back to the 15th century, this famous church is a very popular tourist attraction in Goa. The backdrop of the main altar is magnificent which is mainly dedicated to the Mary Immaculate which makes it a must visit place in Goa. Outside the church is a shopping area and the place is specially a treat if you visit in the Christmas time of the year.

The next day we visited Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception church at Panjim. It is one of the oldest church in Goa. It was beautiful. It was so peaceful, so serene, and so so so lovely. I could relate to some Bollywood movies shot here. (I am a truly Bollywood person!)Just on the lane opposite to it was Kamat hotel. I got excited seeing the name cuz it was familiar. We have Kamat Hotel in Hyderabad and it served South Indian tiffins too. Dosa, Idly, Vada, Upma etc. We had a filling breakfast. And again headed towards the beach.It was our last day in Goa. Every possible dishes, cocktails, services we could think of, we tried it all that day. All the last moment shopping too.

Evening we went to Baga one of the most happening and popular beach with youngsters, buzzing with energy and crowd, lot of restaurants and pubs on both the sides of the street with loud music , karaoke and lively atmosphere, All good pubs and restaurants are here. Titos street we tried few restaurants, Sipping cocktails, checking the crowd and enjoying different ambience. Lastly ended up in TIttos cafe again one of my Favourite open restaurants. *Things to See in Panjim Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church&nbsp;Basilica of Bom Jesus&nbsp;Se Cathedral, Dona Paula etc*Old Goa is congested so two wheeler makes it easy to roam around than compared to four wheeler*Baga has many Restaurants, pubs and lounges Tittos and Mambos are one of the oldest and popular* Baga is located 19 km north of Panaji Day4

The Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church is located in Panjim, Goa, India.
The colonial Portuguese Baroque style church was first built in 1541 as a chapel by the Portuguese, was replaced by a larger church in the 1600s, then in colonial Portuguese Goa.
The church is located in Panaji, with the Municipal Gardens to its southeast in the foreground. The site was the location of a colonial port landing, where ships sailing from Lisbon made first call and where sailors disembarked, before they proceeding further inland to Ela (now Old Goa), which was the capital of Goa until the 19th century. A laterite walkway and a straight line of thin palm trees were part of the scene around the church.&nbsp;

After the falls, the remainder of the trek passed through the jungle - Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife sanctuary. Entering the sanctuary requires a permit which can be availed at a minimal cost at the entry point. A local guide is mandatory to enter the jungle. The sanctuary is particularly known for Leopards, Bisons, Elephants, and Deer - Sambar, Chital and Spotted deer. However, it is unlikely that you will spot any wildlife on the jungle trek, at least we did not find any. Nonetheless, the jungle itself is immensely beautiful and a pleasure for the senses. Along the way, we passed through many small and big streams overflowing with water due to monsoon. We got wet, and fooled around in quite a few of the streams, it was awesome fun.

After the falls, the remainder of the trek passed through the jungle - Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife sanctuary. Entering the sanctuary requires a permit which can be availed at a minimal cost at the entry point. A local guide is mandatory to enter the jungle. The sanctuary is particularly known for Leopards, Bisons, Elephants, and Deer - Sambar, Chital and Spotted deer. However, it is unlikely that you will spot any wildlife on the jungle trek, at least we did not find any. Nonetheless, the jungle itself is immensely beautiful and a pleasure for the senses. Along the way, we passed through many small and big streams overflowing with water due to monsoon. We got wet, and fooled around in quite a few of the streams, it was awesome fun.

Falls are located in the Bhagwaan Mahaveer National Park. Swim under the falls, soak the sun and enjoy nature. Dhoodhsagar waterfalls are nature at its best. View of the falls is amazing. Water is milky white and the best time to visit Doodhsagar is during or post monsoon. Come back by the night and head to your next destination in the morning.

After enjoying the hospitality of Swapnagandha’s for three days it was time to leave for Surla, on the northern side of the Bhagwan Mahavir National Park, Goa. But the ‘ciao’ was not before an extremely informative and inspirational session by Nirmal Kulkarni about the efforts that one staying in cities can take to conserve nature. As a token and souvenir I bought ‘The Goan Jungle Book’ by Nirmal Kulkarni which is a collection of his experiences dealing with some of the most beautiful and important animals of Goa. The next few days of the camp were going to take us just about 70 miles away form this emerald groove to a completely different habitat. To Canopy Goa’s NatureNest, Surla.&nbsp;We were excited and waiting for more. Amid the serenity of undisturbed wet deciduous forest experience raw nature filled with wildlife right at the doorstep of your cottage. Spot the rare Malayan Night Heron to the endemic Srilankan Frogmouth, to the Hump Nosed and Saw Scaled Pit Vipers. From beautiful waterfalls to melodious chirping of birds, frogs and insects, to the beautiful fluttering of over 75 species of butterflies, for a nature lover this is the place to be. Join us for an unforgettable experience to a place host to about 40 species of mammals, 200 species of birds, 150 species of amphibians, 20 species of snakes and more than 1000 species of insects and other small creatures. This is what a camping group describes the place. We travelled for two hours by road and reached here by lunch time. Again the lunch was as sumptuous and diverse and delicious as the one in Swapnagandha. The campsite is built about 100 meters from the national park outer boundary and is actually a part of a palm tree plantation. On the first evening we trekked to the small tableland just in front of the campsite. It is a beautiful place brimming with wildlife. We saw about 20 pompadour green pigeons and a variety of insects and frogs. The rocks there provide a day time shelter to some snakes and we did find a Saw Scaled Viper under one. This is one of the most feared species of vipers along with the Hump Nosed Pit Viper (which we found on our campsite itself). The Saw Scaled Viper gets its name from the pattern of scales on its body. Post dinner we went for a night trail. There was a slight drizzle and hence an awesome time to see amphibians. Truly we were rewarded. We saw the amazing Ornate Narrow Mouth Frog, which is the size of a thumb.&nbsp;Yet it makes a raucous load noise which can be heard about 100 meters away. We also saw the Amboli Bush frog, Indian Bull frog, Common Indian toad, and the Skittering frog to name a few. The trail ended at a place deep inside the forests. Our guide Omkar asked us all to switch off the torches and what followed next was exotic. The whole jungle around us was glowing in a green tinge, a effect due to the bioluminescent fungus. A completely alien out of a sci-fi movie experience. If not for anything else one should only visit this place to have the joy of seeing this. The night trail had not ended with that. Still in store for us were a cricket laying eggs, a wooly bear caterpillar, Brook’s gecko and lot many more frogs and toads. That night I couldn’t sleep. The pictures from the trail kept playing in my head as I tried to digest all the beautiful sights I had seen. This night was a long and memorable one.

This is a trail that starts from the main entrance of the Bhagwan Mahavir NP. A pretty simple accent takes you to the heart of the forest. This is the biggest trail with a one way distance of about 4 miles. This trail is also the most pristine one. There is not a single piece of plastic / paper to be seen lying on the forest floor throughout the trail, our guide Omkar proudly pointed out. This is one place that is brimming with life. As soon as the trail began we saw a complete black coloured frog which we couldn’t ID using any of the field guides we were carrying. Further ahead a mating pair of Common Four Rings staged the show for sometime.&nbsp;This was followed by an amalgamation of about 10 species of frogs and toads (we saw the bright yellow breeding plumage of the Indian Bull frog), Vine snakes, about 5 Hump Nosed Pit Vipers, many cute little caterpillars and insects, and countless butterflies. It took us the better part of 3 hours to reach the top. Utterly exhausted we were full of beautiful sights and felt that we had seen a good part of the wildlife there. Had no great expectations on the way back. But Goa proved us all wrong. To start with, it was pretty dark when we started our decent. The forest had come alive with Fireflies and Glowworms. There was a beautiful starry sky but the moon was absent. At many a places we all would switch off our torches and stand in peace both to rest and to experience the beauty of the night.&nbsp;We had neared the exit of the park. All our torches were glues to the floor for the simple reason that there were many Pit Vipers on the trail. We had already seen 5 of them. Omkar and I were walking about 10 steps ahead of the rest of the group. At that point I had already exhausted my questions to him and there was silence except for the noise of the Cicadas. Why my instinct told me to flash the torch at a higher level about ourselves, I don’t know/recall. But when I turned it to the left, I get Goosebumps with the memory even today. I simply shouted, “Dada watch!” There was a herd of 5 Indian Gaur about 15 meters from where we were standing. In 10 years of forest trail I know that this antelope is capable of overturning a Jeep, what were we in front of it? This was the single most terrifying experience that I get nightmares about.

Bhagawan Mahavir Wild Life Sanctuary.For Bollywood lovers its shown in Blockbuster movie of Shahrukh Khan “Chennai Express”.During the monsoonseason the falls are transformed into one of the most powerful falls in India. Dudhsagar Falls is listed asIndia's fifth tallest waterfall and is 227th in theworld at 310 msituated on the border of Goa and Karnataka.The water comes down heavily hundreds of meters (over a thousand feet) inlarge volumes during the rainy monsoon season, forming one of the most spectacular natural phenomena in Goa.

Best time to see the waterfalls? Monsoon months i.e. June to September are the best time to visit when the entire area is lush and green and offers a scenic view. However during these months the access to the waterfall may be cut due to flooded river and heavy cascading of the waterfalls. November to February is also a pleasant time to visit. During this period you can also take the route through the Bhagwan Mahavir wildlife sanctuary. However this remains closed during monsoon.How to reach the waterfalls? The bottom of the waterfall is accessible through the Bhagwan Mahavir wildlife sanctuary. The forest department provides service up to the foot of the falls. The service is closed during monsoons.

The wildlife sanctuaries are definitely the best places to visit in Goa in monsoon. Unlike other places, the reserves here are open throughout the year and to witness fresh, green and pristine milieu washed in the rain is an experience you just can’t miss.Some of Goa’s popular wildlife sanctuaries include Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary, The Bhagwan Mahavir Sanctuary, Mollem National Park and Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary.Historical Places in GoaBom Jesus Basilica

Hence, I decided to take off all by myself and explore the part of Goa which many people tend to ignore. This was the basic idea behind visiting offbeat places like Tambdi Surla Temple, Mollem National Park, Mahavir Sanctuary, Cabo De Rama Fort, and Ancestral Goa and Cross Museum.I have written a detailed travelogue of the same at the link below. Do visit if you are interested. I would be happy to inspire people to stop looking at Goa as a purely party destination and get to know the real essence of the place.https://sushantgole.wordpress.com/2015/06/26/goa-paradise-lost-and-found/

The greenery in Goa during the rainy season is incomparable. Go check out one of the wildlife Sanctuaries in Goa that are open to visitors throughout the year and are something that not many people go for. I get it, we obsess over the beaches and the beer, but there is much more to Goa than that. So I recommend you try and squeeze in a visit to one of the many wildlife sanctuaries in Goa: the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary, Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary, Mollem National Park and the Bhagwan Mahavir Sanctuary. Trust me, you'll not regret it.

Goa- Yes, you might have been there innumerable times but monsoon offers a fresh new look to this ever hot tourist destination in the west. Dudhsagar Falls, located in the southern part of Goa – Mollem and in close proximity to the Karnataka border, this waterfall is at its best and is much-admired throughout the monsoon. Embrace the nature, take a dip in the waters of this waterfall that resembles literally, ‘sea of milk’ during the monsoons.

A four-tiered waterfall, the Doodhsagar lies in the Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary and Mollem National Park and forms the natural border between Karnataka and Goa. The onset of monsoons transforms it into a majestic sight. Roaring its way down as it diverges into multiple streams before converging again.

3. Divar Island, GoaThe island of Divar lies in the Mandovi river in Goa. The rather huge island is home to some fascinating people and cultures. The island in itself has four villages which are diverse and fascinating in their practices. Its relative isolation has kept Divar in a unique state, which appears to be stuck in time. According to folktales, Divar was originally occupied by people of Old Goa who migrated here to escape a disastrous plague, which spread across Goa at that time.Every year Divar is decorated with lights to celebrate three festivals – two of them being Bonderam and Potekar. Bonderam is a carnival that takes place on every fourth Saturday of August, when each part of the village takes out their floats for the parade. Potekar, like Halloween, is celebrated three days before Lent and is a spectacle where locals roam around wearing handmade masks and bells!How to reach: Ferry from Ribandar and Old Goa. The island is about 10 km upriver from Panjim.

3. Divar Island, GoaThe island of Divar lies in the Mandovi river in Goa. The rather huge island is home to some fascinating people and cultures. The island in itself has four villages which are diverse and fascinating in their practices. Its relative isolation has kept Divar in a unique state, which appears to be stuck in time. According to folktales, Divar was originally occupied by people of Old Goa who migrated here to escape a disastrous plague, which spread across Goa at that time.Every year Divar is decorated with lights to celebrate three festivals – two of them being Bonderam and Potekar. Bonderam is a carnival that takes place on every fourth Saturday of August, when each part of the village takes out their floats for the parade. Potekar, like Halloween, is celebrated three days before Lent and is a spectacle where locals roam around wearing handmade masks and bells!How to reach: Ferry from Ribandar and Old Goa. The island is about 10 km upriver from Panjim.

Hidden behind the tourist hyped beaches and psychedelic parties, I met a Goa where the older generation sits out on the balcaos of their brightly coloured houses, reading the newspaper and looking up to say hello to the neighbours as they pass by. A Goa where they show their love through food and cook up a dinner enough to feed a starving army. It's a Goa where time moves slow as they pull out old pictures and stories of your grandparents with the fan above you slowly stirring away the humid heat. A Goa where they spend evenings talking passionately about saving their culture that's getting over ridden by builders trying desperately to meet the demands of beach facing homes. A Goa where at night we used church bells to guide us and even when we got the wrong house they happily helped us find our way. A Goa where the man who sells freshly baked bread comes cycling down the street at sunset and all you can hear is the sound of the rubber horn, the crickets in the vast fields and the faint strain of mandos from a nearby home ..... a Goa where time has truly stood still.I'v never lived in Goa and I may never end up living there ..but I hope against all hope that this real heart of Goa keeps beating.

Goa is not about Beaches only. Apart from the Churches and Forts of Historical Significance, if you are looking forward to remains of ancient Portuguese culture, do not miss the Divar Island.It's a 10 minute ferry ride across the Mandovi River.

After a sumptuous meal, I asked Mr. Alex (he served me the delicious food) for directions to Old Goa. Mr. Louis (the owner of the restaurant), who was reading Newspaper in the balcony was listening to our conversation and he came to my rescue. He is a very friendly and knowledgeable person who has spent his entire life in Goa. Born in Divar Island (Goa), he currently runs one of the most popular restaurant in Panjim (Venite Restaurant) and plans to settle down in one of the Goan villages and live the rest of his life as his grandparents did....away from the hustle and bustle of the city life.

The Divar Island – While making my checklist there was this one place that was my top priority, The Divar Island. This not so touristy small island is accessible after taking a 5 minute ferry ride. The island is quiet and peaceful and has all the houses on a small hill top. The houses are far beyond spectacular and have this vintage feel. The typical Portuguese architecture is something of a stunner and will take your breath away. Don’t take my word, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, the famous Bollywood director too thinks the same. Remember that movie called “Guzaarish”, the one with pretty Location? Yes, that’s what I am talking about. This place also has some of the most beautiful birds as it is a host for many migratory birds.Food – Of course one tends to try the sea food when in Goa. Prawns, crabs, shark and what not. When it came to food I thought to try the local cuisines here. The famous Goan Sausages, Goan samosa and pao. I fell in love with these three. Everywhere I went I hogged on these mouth-watering cuisines.Spice Farms – There are many spice farms in Goa. Visiting one was one of my dream especially after I got to know that you could play around with elephants here. The spice farm was a long drive as we were travelling from north goa and it is located a little bit on the outskirts of the city. The lush green place is a hidden treasure of every spice present on the planet Earth. Welcomed with this rejuvenating tea and followed by a guided tour and this ending with a buffet that this so good that you would want to cry out of pleasure. We paid a little extra and did this fun activity where you climb on an elephants back while they are sitting in a small stream and they splash water on you. The spice farms are a complete world in itself.Now when people talk about Goa, I don’t think they know this place as I know it. For me it is not a party capital but something of a hidden treasure which is still not fully explored. A place that is so exotic and beautiful. Goa is way more than beaches, booze and parties.

While in August, Divar island gets ready for the famous Bonderam Festival. The festival begins with a vibrant parade with multi coloured flags and the entire island comes alive with performances by famous local bands.And you thought the carnival was everything Goa had?!

If you’re looking for something off the beaten path, step into what makes Goa really tick. Benaulim village is home to a museum of Goan ethnography located on a traditional organic farm called Goa Chitra with an extraordinary display of 4000 traditional farming implements, ancient tools of trade and other privately-owned artefacts chronicling Goa’s past. Its appeal also lies in its very structure, which is of reutilised and recycled materials like wood work, doors, windows, pillars, railings and other elements from over 3000 demolished colonial houses. Its winning approach to engage with locals and visitors is by focusing on various events ranging from music concerts to cultural weeks and monthly book club meets.

If you’re looking for something off the beaten path, step into what makes Goa really tick. Benaulim village is home to a museum of Goan ethnography located on a traditional organic farm called Goa Chitra with an extraordinary display of 4000 traditional farming implements, ancient tools of trade and other privately-owned artefacts chronicling Goa’s past. Its appeal also lies in its very structure, which is of reutilised and recycled materials like wood work, doors, windows, pillars, railings and other elements from over 3000 demolished colonial houses. Its winning approach to engage with locals and visitors is by focusing on various events ranging from music concerts to cultural weeks and monthly book club meets.

From there, Benaulim. It pretty much looked exactly the same as Utorda, with more foreigners and restaurants. Looking north (and south) I realized its just one long strip of sand divvied up into different beaches, so in essence they’re all the same… It all depends on whether you prefer to have some pretense of seclusion or easy access to overpriced restaurants.

A bus dropped us at Benaulim Beach, we walked along the shores of the virgin beach for 7kms to Velsao Camp. Although exhausting, there is no moment I regret taking up the trek. As the days progressed, we got better at covering more distance in lesser time.

Today, we woke up at 5:30 AM. We freshened up, and I found that 1 of my shoe was missing. I first was disgusted that people even steal shoe, and then I got to know it was the Dog's work! I searched the entire base Camp, the ground and almost took the survey of the entire plot searching for it, but couldn't find it. I went for breakfast, and at 9:00 AM, we had an orientation from Manoj Joshi, and he spoke about our trek route and about the places we will be visiting in the next 6 days. It ended at 10:15, and at 10:30 we deposited all out extra luggage in the base camp, and me and Priyanka left to Panjim market to buy shoes. I bought a canvas shoe at 280 bucks :P we also shopped Oranges, glucose and chocolates that would serve as back up when needed.

At 12:15 PM, we returned to base camp, and we sat under the tree and played a game of Uno and Mafia. Before we could end the mafia game, we were called for lunch and we all went to satisfy our hunger. We were all ready to leave for our day's trek, and at 2 PM, we were sent off with a packet of chocolates, biscuits and chikki. We boarded the bus, which would drop us at Benaulim Beach. While on bus, we started our antyakshari game. At 3:30 PM, we reached Benaulim beach. Group leaders gave us general instructions and asked us to stay together in group as much as possible. We started the walk alongside the beach at 4 PM. Walking along the beach, bare foot was an awesome experience. There were sports adventures going on at Colva beach, and though we were lagging behind, we decided to do Jet skiing. We found a guy who spoke Kannada, and bargained him from 300 to 250 and all 3 took a ride on the sea. It was indeed a nice experience. There was a marriage going on the beach, the couple belonged to some other country, and were getting married in Punjabi style that too on a beach in Goa! We went and danced for the bangra beats for a while, and we wished the couple and started walking, hoping to catch up soon with the other members of the group.

The main beach in the heart of the city, this is just a few minutes drive from the Panjim Main Market. Being is such a location, this beach is almost everytime crowded. The scenic beauty is awesome and the main reason is that this is the mouth of the Mandovi River. The slope of the beach is gentle and thus this place is ideal for swimming. You can also go for a morning or evening walk along the beach or sit and enjoy some snacks sold by the sellers who sit on the shores. This is however not the best beach if you are seeking one with lot of serenity and peacefulness.

The main beach in the heart of the city, this is just a few minutes drive from the Panjim Main Market. Being is such a location, this beach is almost everytime crowded. The scenic beauty is awesome and the main reason is that this is the mouth of the Mandovi River. The slope of the beach is gentle and thus this place is ideal for swimming. You can also go for a morning or evening walk along the beach or sit and enjoy some snacks sold by the sellers who sit on the shores. This is however not the best beach if you are seeking one with lot of serenity and peacefulness.

Now this time Goa really amazed me. Street food, that to in Goa. Yesss, I was really excited to try it. I am not a foodie person but when I see street food I am gone. I saw it while going to Dona Paula Jetty.
Entry fee: NIL
How to Reach: 5 kms from Panaji, Goa
Recommended Length of Visit: 1-2 hrs
Tips: Must visit to see the sunset. It will be a lifetime experience.
Facts: Awesome street food and that to with local people. It was really one of the best experience in Goa I had.

Miramar Beach is the closest to Panjim. Though a lot of tourist do not visit this, the beach has a different charm to offer. Relaxing on the beach by enjoying spicy and street food from the stall can be a better option sometimes. This place also offers a breath-taking sunset along with the cool and preachy wind.

Miramar BeachAfter exploring Goa using a map drawn by Mr. Louis (My first Goan friend), I started towards Miramar Beach. I was tired of riding a bike on a hot day in Goa. I parked my bike and sat on Miramar beach for more than an hour, appreciating the beautiful sunset and the prefect day.

This chance discovery counts as my best Goa trip ever, and if you do go here in the peak season, you might have more crowd than usual. Make sure you hire bikes and go around exploring the beauty of this place and going to innumerable beach-side shacks and restaurants- notably Thalassa and Chronicle.This hotel was a beautiful blend of leisure and fun, with a swimming pool right in the center and the cottages all around it. The aesthetically designed restaurant, with its cane chairs and candle lights, was strategically located right next to the swimming pool area and served decent food and amazing steaming hot coffee. What added to its appeal was a beach-facing porch where you could sit and sip on a steaming cup of coffee and enjoy some alone time, as the cool breeze from the sea ruffled your hair and caressed your face. Then there is the section of the dine-in restaurant facing the beach and surrounded by glass doors all around. The evenings looked magnificent with tiny lights and pitter-patter of rain drops creating a magical effect. A perfect place for a relaxing weekend if you are ready to spend a grand and a half during the off-season for an amazing holiday.

For dinner, we headed to Vagator as Thalassa (11kms away from hotel) was on my list for quite some time. As romantic as restaurants go, you could not ask for more, probably a slightly better music collection. But still that music, that location, add to that a vibrant crowd made that a must-visit place. Set right at the beach, you need to get there by 5 to catch a place near the edge of the hotel to have that uninhibited view of the sea engulfing the sun. Greek cuisine dominate the menu with dishes high in cheese and mushrooms (two things me and my wife love!!). As the sun slowly set in the background, its light was replaced by miniature suns kept on each table that just added to the ambiance. Slightly heavy on the pocket, this place is a must if you are with that special one or your friends that mean the world to you.Day 3 and we had a long list Old Goa monuments on our list.
First up Chapel of our lady of the Mount, 25 kms away from Anjuna but located slight atop a hill giving you a lush-green view of surrounding chapels and nature at its best and mind you this was summer. This place would be a treat in December, not to mention monsoon. A winding road leads you to the chapel with staircases filled with nature’s carpet that give this place a warm feel.
Next up lying in wait for us for Church of St. Catejan, just 5 mins away, this one is architecture at its very best. The ivory-white church surrounded by lush green and colorful garden with classic roman interiors makes this church on top of your visit-list. I understand Basicila of Bom Jesus and Se Cathedral to have more relevance and importance from a religious point of view but solely from a tourist point of view the Church of St. Catejan takes the cake.
Right next to it is the Viceroy’s arch, known to be the entrance to Goa in its heyday. Another old architecture reminding us of the history that Goa holds.
You then have the Se Cathedral nearby with its distinctive statue of Jesus with a curved tree that just makes you wonder at nature and its originality. (Tip: You could park your car in front of Se Cathedral and cover St Catejan and Viceroy’s arch together)
A short drive to the other side of St. Catejan and you can visit Chapel of St. Francis Asisi and Basilica of Bom Jesus. The former has a quaint little garden with Church of Catherine and collection of grinding stones kept for display.
Basilica of Bom Jesus stands tall and firm and is a sight to behold with its rustic exterior and that woody feel. Apart from being a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it contains the mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier along with the usual church interiors you will find across Goa.
Last up on our visit to Old Goa was the ruins of St. Augustine church, built in 1602 and abandoned in 1835. All I can say that it gave me the chills.
At Panaji, we then came to the famous and most often seen sight in Bollywood movies, Church of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception. Got a great picture of the pristine white church with clear spotless blue sky in the background.
A random turn from there took us into Fountainhas, old colorful streets and pathways resembling tiny streets of Portugal, still preserved and still hold that time that has passed the rest of the world. We were quite lucky to see this part of Goa. I truly believe, that there are no wrong turns when you are exploring something new.
Dinner on the 3rd and last night took an unexpected turn as while trying to find a specific hotel, we landed at La Plage on Ashvem beach. This place put Thalassa on the backseat in terms of ambience, location and a strong loving vibe that you receive from the people there. Run by a French lady and her partner, this place is known for its French cuisine and Chocolate Thali (yes, you heard me right!), But more than the food, its location which is right on the beach along with décor which is simplistic and minimalist yet efficient, makes this one of our favorite restaurants to visit. The best feeling is to lose your footwear and let your feet relax in the naturally therapeutic sand with the hymns of the waves crashing on the stony shore nearby. (Just heard recently that it is temporarily closed, wonder why?)

Next up is Patnem, a world renowned beach. Hire a bike and start your beach hopping from here. It's a smaller version of Palolem but as beautiful with beach huts and shacks which provide you amazing food.

Next up is Patnem, a world renowned beach. Hire a bike and start your beach hopping from here. It's a smaller version of Palolem but as beautiful with beach huts and shacks which provide you amazing food.

&nbsp;Prefer isolation? Agonda or Patnem might be the beach for you.&nbsp;With so many things to do and see, you'll be spoilt for choice.In my limited stay I chose to visit the places recommended by my Goan friend.&nbsp;I went to Vagator beach, Chapora Fort, Aguada Fort, Anjuna beach, Arambol beach , Old Goa, Valpoi,Dona Paula and explored the small but vibrant market of Panaji and of course the The Baroque Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church located in the heart of Goa. I was lucky to have a Goan friend guiding me to explore the places guides don't tell you to visit. Everyone rushes to beaches and has a stereotypical image of Goa in their minds. But it is a native dweller of a place that knows the special places apart from the usual attractions where everyone goes invariably.

As the night moves on the tides keep on increasing , the waves get higher and higher . And the same table where the waves were a bit distant at 8 o'clock, by the time you end your dinner the waves are almost splashing on your feet ... No words for it .
Two days afterwards on 24th Dec 2010 , the rent increased and we moved to south of Palolem, 'Patnem' , in search of cheaper accommodation and also to evade the increasing tourist (not traveler , mind you !) crowd day by day .
Some more facts:
- further you move away from beach , cheaper options you have , food and accommodation
- a lot of home have per day renting facility, just ask around
- The most Northern and the most Southern ends of the beach are comparatively cheaper. We were at the northern most point
- Scooty/ Dio rates generally remain Rs 250-300 per day. May be cheaper off season. Petrol is approx Rs 56 per liter
- On the southern most point is Patnem . Smaller and quieter and more peaceful .
- buy the 5 liter bottle directly . Rs 55 out of which 20 is deposit. Then afterwards you get it refilled from any shop for 35
- Canoe for Rs 250-300 for an hour(northern most end) (trust me you cant do it more than an hour!). Until of course you are some sort of athlete !

13th Feb , the trip from North Goa to South Goa is about 120 km and takes almost 1.5 hours . When you reach there, it's a paradise. It's clean, blue and quiet. You sit with your book, with your partner, listen to Guns n Roses, order some english breakfast and a beer. You can soak in the saline water and then the sun. There are beautiful shades for you to laze and get lots of Vitamin D. Before you realize, the sun is setting and you can just watch the sun go down by the beach.This can go on forever.Hence, as planned we catch the flight from Goa to Mumbai and the trip ends with a bag full of good memories.PS - Brittos and South Goa cannot be missed.centre of Mapusa. good accessibility to the North GoaIt's right on the beach ! Beautifully put up with a good playlist and yum food !

Patnem was quieter, less crowded . I liked it here.
This was the kind of place which provokes you to sit on the beach, stare at the horizon, feel how powerful the nature can be, think about how superficial life is and that nothing is forever.
You feel like calling up your closed ones and telling that them how much they mean to you.
We came in search of cheaper accommodation, we found a lot more.
So, what more to do now that you have done all the 'podering over' , right ?
Hmmm... this is what we did. We did yoga on the beach, tried some kick boxing, lit candles and ate home cooked maggie :)
So ya the Christmas arrives!! The shacks at the beach are lighted up and nice music is in the air. Around this time you find more families than backpackers and friends. They are here to celebrate Christmas!
So ya on the day we had a nice candle light dinner at the beach. Saw some really nice fireworks, saw young kids chasing each other,heard an indian family say a small prayer...Pssstttt, on the southern end of Patnem , there is The Intercontinental.Just our luck that a party was going on while we were there !So we decided to sneak in, we kept on following the music and the lights i.e. keep on walking along the beach and the rocks at the end and boom you end up in the private trance party of The Intercontinental. Our luck no one saw us sneaking in , but if they do ... well just say something nice in hindi to the guards, they let you in (a tip from the fellow 'sneaked ins').
Ya so by the time you want to return to your beach, its around midnight, you are exhausted,the beach looks beautiful, waves are all violent, the tide is higher and when you reach the end of the beach ... the way you came by gets sort of disappeared...Oh Higher tides ! Not exactly rocket science ...
so had to pass a water passage sort of thing where a person was fishing ! (that WAS very funny even then too). I was like why is he busy fishing at night and WHy doesn't he help us cross this river thing !!!! Anyways then we had to climb the coral rocks at the end, where I could see crabs too, but somehow they were scared of us TOO.
So ya reached back safely (just had to let go off my slipper on the way ! You see thats why I sometimes miss a guy traveling with us , at least he could have saved my slipper! rupu can never do this !
Me ? You have to be kidding, If I was so smart why would I let the slipper go ?! )
Ya so Patnem was much more than the cheaper accommodation !

Shopping is an important part of your trip to Goa equally as the beaches are. The flea market or the Wednesday Market of Goa in the Anjuna region is one of the best souvenir markets here. Earlier here would only be found hippies smoking jumbo joints and trying to convince people to buy their stuffs and services which would in turn earn them money to help them during the rest of their stay.At present there is a lot more you will find here. Starting from Kashmiri and Tibetian clothes and show pieces to Gujarati tribal women selling t- shirts and home decor items and other tribal girls from Mumbai and Karnataka selling traditional stuff too. The remaining shops belong to backpackers from Europe and Russia and the others to the hippies. They mostly sell services such as massages, piercings, tattoo making and others.

Shopping is an important part of your trip to Goa equally as the beaches are. The flea market or the Wednesday Market of Goa in the Anjuna region is one of the best souvenir markets here. Earlier here would only be found hippies smoking jumbo joints and trying to convince people to buy their stuffs and services which would in turn earn them money to help them during the rest of their stay.At present there is a lot more you will find here. Starting from Kashmiri and Tibetian clothes and show pieces to Gujarati tribal women selling t- shirts and home decor items and other tribal girls from Mumbai and Karnataka selling traditional stuff too. The remaining shops belong to backpackers from Europe and Russia and the others to the hippies. They mostly sell services such as massages, piercings, tattoo making and others.

The flea market at Anjuna beach is a shopping experience that should not be missed. Occupying the south of Anjuna beach, the market is held every Wednesday starting from 11 am catering to all the needs of Shopaholics. From clothing items to jewelry to souvenirs you just name it. It's all on offer. The best part is the great deals that the skilled haggling shoppers get.
What started as an enterprise by hippies to sell their native products to garner enough money to buy a ticket home has now turned into a commercial venture. The vendors at the present date are both expats and natives seen belonging to a diverse section of India, some even coming from neighboring countries like Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh trying to sell the tourists the essence of their native lands. It takes hours for tourists to venture this flea market. The numerous restaurants and shacks on the beach providing a relaxing spot as well as enticing the tourists gastronomically further make the shopping experience delightful.

This is a good place to find great bargains as long as you haggle...even if you do not want to buy anything just go there for a quick browse, and a good sighting of the faithful hippies playing music, minding their own business and gazing ocean wards.

Being their on a Wednesday meant heading out to the Anjuna flea market, taking a leisurely stroll around, bargaining and ending up not buying anything, and then heading out for a walk on the beach. The overtly perfumed flavored teas they sell might seem fake, but the fun was real.
Shopping: Cashewnuts, Feni, Goan sausages, Bebinca (now that it is commercially available, I picked up a Costa’s) are some of the things one must bring back. You could also pick up locally grown spices, tees and souvenirs that would remind you of happy times spent in Goa.

The Roads leading to Baga from Anjuna have quite a few flee markets where you can find anything you look for at a cheap price. All these markets have specific days when they are open. Anjuna’s flee market is open only on Wednesday from 8 AM to 6 PM. The Saturday night market at Arpora is a special attraction and open from evening till midnight. On you way back, eat some local cuisine.

One of the most popular and one of the best beach shacks in Goa, the Curlies Beach Shack is located near the flea market at the Anjuna Beach. People love to come here again and again and their best point is of course the ambience out here. They serve you with delicacies and some real good beverages and drinks. Another reason for the popularity of this place is that that this place hosts some of the best parties you will get to enjoy in Goa. This includes trance parties and electro parties which you hardly find so good in other places.

One of the most popular and one of the best beach shacks in Goa, the Curlies Beach Shack is located near the flea market at the Anjuna Beach. People love to come here again and again and their best point is of course the ambience out here. They serve you with delicacies and some real good beverages and drinks. Another reason for the popularity of this place is that that this place hosts some of the best parties you will get to enjoy in Goa. This includes trance parties and electro parties which you hardly find so good in other places.

Curlies is a small stretch of a beach with 3-4 restaurants/shacks. Although its charm seems to have faded over the years, being here nonetheless, gives one a feeling of serenity and peace. A good place to have dinner and end the day.
However, its accessibility is an issue. The road leading to it is in shambles and you will need to drive carefully. If you plan on drinking, make sure you have a designated driver.

this place is one of the most chilling places i have been in goa tilll now!
located on very famous beach of goa, Anjuna beach.
it has got amazing beach house music goin on!
i was here from evening to night, the place is super cool.
i got the pleasure to see the sun setting from here which was breathtaking

Located in eastern Goa, Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary is a major attraction for nature-enthusiasts and wildlife lovers as well. Just few years back Netravali was declared a wildlife sanctuary by the government of Goa to protect its Western Ghat range. Here, you can spot wildlife like Black Panthers, Great Pied Hornbills, King Cobras, Giant Squirrels, and Slender Loris. Apart from these wildlife species, you can also see a number of other animals also.

Located in eastern Goa, Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary is a major attraction for nature-enthusiasts and wildlife lovers as well. Just few years back Netravali was declared a wildlife sanctuary by the government of Goa to protect its Western Ghat range. Here, you can spot wildlife like Black Panthers, Great Pied Hornbills, King Cobras, Giant Squirrels, and Slender Loris. Apart from these wildlife species, you can also see a number of other animals also.

The Netravali Wildlife sanctuary and the Netravali Falls is also a recommended day trip. Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary is about two hours drive from Margao city and a trek to the Waterfalls is about three kms therefrom.

It is an enjoyable experience and the trek is really picturesque, however you should avoid the trek in monsoons as it may get very slippery and muddy. You can stand under the cascading falls, swim in the pools of water at its base, and maybe even have a little picnic lunch on the rocks.You can also go Dolphin Spotting in Goa. There are various tour operators who provide a half day / full day dolphin spotting trip. These trips are operated between October - May and are indeed very enjoyable. If you are lucky, you may get the opportunity to enjoy a swim with the fun loving dolphins.Last but not the least, a trip to Goa is incomplete without a visit to its beautiful churches. The Portuguese ruled over Goa for 450 years and their culture and memory is felt in the beautiful churches and houses that encompass Goa. Few of the famous churches in Goa are -

Hi friends, this diwali vacation, we have spend our time in Goa &amp; konkan area. This time we spend more time in north-east goa. We explored two wild life sencturies(bahagvan mahavir &amp; netravali ), done jungle trecking , explored two waterfalls dudhsagar &amp; savari water falls.

Goa represents a quintessential place perfect for those beach holidays lying on the sand under the sun with a beer. This trip was completely opposite of it. For example; instead of lying, we cycled to the beach. Our cycling route included all sorts of terrain from the coastline to the midlands to the mountain ranges. If it was not for this trip, I could have never explored the beauty of inner parts of Goa.Following is the day wise plan of our cycling route:Day 0 - Joy ride in and around PanajiDay 1 - Mormugao Harbour to Assolna [40 Km]Day 2 - Assolna to Netravali Village [41 Km]Day 3 - Netravali Village to Dudhsagar Waterfalls [58 Km]Day 4 - Dudhsagar Waterfalls to Bondla Wild Life Sanctuary [35 Km] Day 5 - Bondla Wild Life Sanctuary to Panaji City [45 Km]

Today, it was a 9 km walk, and mostly inside thick jungle. We thus had a guide, who would accompany us till the end. We started at 8:00 AM, and for only 10 minutes, we were on plain terrain, and then the jungle started. There were too many ups and downs, and it was thus a little tiring. In between, we found a plain land and the scenery was good there. Some photos there, and started to walk again inside the jungle. We were all waiting to reach the lunch spot, and we reached Tambdi Surla temple at 2:15, from where the base camp was only 5 minutes. We didn't know that, and we sat on the road, and there were a couple of shops, and we had lime juice, chips, boti, chocolate and then we had our packed lunch. Our group leader treated all of us with Ice cream too :) Most of them even lied down on the road for a while, and we finally picked up our bags and reached the camp at 3:15 PM.

Today, it was a 9 km walk, and mostly inside thick jungle. We thus had a guide, who would accompany us till the end. We started at 8:00 AM, and for only 10 minutes, we were on plain terrain, and then the jungle started. There were too many ups and downs, and it was thus a little tiring. In between, we found a plain land and the scenery was good there. Some photos there, and started to walk again inside the jungle. We were all waiting to reach the lunch spot, and we reached Tambdi Surla temple at 2:15, from where the base camp was only 5 minutes. We didn't know that, and we sat on the road, and there were a couple of shops, and we had lime juice, chips, boti, chocolate and then we had our packed lunch. Our group leader treated all of us with Ice cream too :) Most of them even lied down on the road for a while, and we finally picked up our bags and reached the camp at 3:15 PM.

Mahadev Temple, Tambdi SurlaThe temple is located in the village of Tambdi Surla , at the foot of hills Ghat Anmod that connects Goa to Karnataka state. Approximately 65 km from the capital of the city of Panaji (Goa), this Shiva temple of 13th century survived several centuries of the reign of Muslims and Portuguese. The temple sits comfortably in a distant jingle and is accessible after trekking through dense forest. It takes 45 minutes of brisk walking to reach this place.Surla Tambdi in GoaThe idiosyncrasy of the temple attracts thousands of travellers and explorers. It's a bit off the beaten track location that make it a day trip for adventure lovers. Like a lost page of an old book of history, Tambdi Surla is simply beautiful. The sanctuary is surrounded by the tower and jungle that adds to make it a perfect holiday trip.Built in Jain style, this temple offers some interesting minutiae about the construction which is always debatable. This inexplicably carved, petite temple is made out of black basalt and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple was built by accomplished craftsmen in between 10th and 14th century. The complex carvings adorn the sides and interior of the building.The temple is surrounded with rich flora and cascading Tambdi Surla in the background. The last stop before reaching the place is the village where visitors walk to the water fall. The cascading waterfall from a great height can be heard from a distance. The calm landscape in the middle of culture and nature makes it an amazing blend of adventure and knowledge. This place is thronged by several devotees during Shivratri. If you visit it sometime, you can observe the unfinished semblance of the temple. This is because the temple was built in hurry by the Pandavas of Mahabharata.

The Tamdi Surla Mahadev Temple is considered the most ancient temple in Goa. The intricate design and architecture is best example of a 12th century classic marvel. There are some interesting details about the construction which has led to debates about the actual origins of the temple. The size of the temple is quite small as compared to the size of an average Goan temple.

Next Day, we went to Tambdi Surla Mahadev Temple, which is around 20 KMs from the Dudhsagar Spa Resort. We returned Bangalore in the same train which we boarded from Londa Junction at 8:00 PM.We all enjoyed the trip and the rail trek was an awesome experience.

The next day we went to the Tambdi Surla temple and then to the trail behind the same. This 12th cent rock cut monument is preserved in the best way by the Archaeological Survey of India and has a beautiful location too. On the banks of a river and in the backdrop rise green mountains and if this was not enough, it is surrounded by a beautiful garden. This temple is a tribute to Lord Shiva and is also a starting point of a trail. The trail takes you deep within the jungle.&nbsp;About half a mile into the trail we had to cross a very shallow stream. Our shoes had just dried after the rains on the first day. Many of us actually took efforts to remove them and wear them again on the opposite bank. I was absolutely not bothered to take any such extra efforts. This is such a pristine part of the woods that the walkways are a shade mode clearer than the brush itself. It was fun find our way through the bamboo thickets, across the vines and above the muddy pot holes. We were awarded with amazing insect life and diverse bird life. We also saw a baby Hump Nosed Pit Viper, right in our way. The golden coloured caterpillar of Malabar Raven (butterfly) and the brown morph of Malabar Pit Viper were also in the highlights. The trail ends at a waterfall. We had packed dry snacks at the place and also spent a joyful time while our guide Ramesh told us about a thousand new things about the forests, including his experience and understanding of the same. We were the enthralled audience and sat mesmerized until the rains brought us back to our senses. We hurried back through the same path that we had trod. Except that this time no one bothered to keep their footwear dry while crossing a waist deep river about five times. I recall Garima saying, “Oh where is our boat!”

This was a small and empty railway station and we were probably the only people there along with some monkeys and dogs. Our return journey to Bangalore was on the same night and we had a couple of hours to kill so we played UNO. The train was at 9 PM and we reached Bangalore the next morning.

This was a small and empty railway station and we were probably the only people there along with some monkeys and dogs. Our return journey to Bangalore was on the same night and we had a couple of hours to kill so we played UNO. The train was at 9 PM and we reached Bangalore the next morning.

Finally, we reached the Kulem station at around 1 pm in the afternoon, bringing our wonderful jungle trek to an end. We cleaned up, had lunch, and relaxed a bit before catching the Goa Express from Kulem at 4:35 pm back to Pune.

Famously knows as the goddess of peace, the divine Shree Shantadurga Devi's temple in Goa is a beautiful example of the temples built during the period of late Shivaji. It has a magnificent Garbhagudi where the deity is placed with a roof of red sloping and the white lamp tower or "Deepastambha"

Famously knows as the goddess of peace, the divine Shree Shantadurga Devi's temple in Goa is a beautiful example of the temples built during the period of late Shivaji. It has a magnificent Garbhagudi where the deity is placed with a roof of red sloping and the white lamp tower or "Deepastambha"

Shantadurga temple is the most visited temple in Goa which is dedicated to Goddess Shanta durga. As the name suggests, Shanta means peace and hence she is considered as the Goddess of peace. The temple is located in North Goa. When I had visited this place, many families had come to visit the temple and seek the blessing of goddess Durga.

Day 3: We went to old Goa, Visited St. Cathedral's Church, Mangeshi temple, Safa Masjid, Shanta Durga Temple and in evening we went to Cruise on Mandi river. Ticket price was 300 INR per person.The view of sunset from the Cruise was awesome. At evening we went Panjim church

Shantadurga Temple is a Divine and tranquil place to be in Goa. I always thought Goa is all about party people but little did i knew that there are many spiritual places of historic importance. Shantadurga temple is very Beautifully built and architecture is very unique as compared to other temples in India. This temple is probably the only temple in India where you can see the goddess smiling &amp; resting on her bed. It is a beautiful temple built in the Konkan style with it's signature lamp tower and long hall. A beautiful place that must be visited at least once when in Goa.After visiting this temple, we felt soo hungry and somewhere we saw one board -Shantha Durga Canteen' inside the temple area itself..Its situated below the ground level..Its soo cool inside..We bought Masala Dosa for dinner. Food is very cheap in their canteen...Its Jain Food..No onion No garlic..I dont know how they maintain the taste without using garlic and onion...Trust me..It was soooo tasty and the Rs. 5 Tea from the canteen will make you energetic..No wonder we ordered Dal Vadas,Batata Wada, Masala Dosa, 4 coffe, 4 tea..All the people in the canteen were looking at us.. LOL...

Next up is Cabo De Rama, not the fort, but there's a beach there too. So Cola and Cabo De Rama are two beaches you cannot just walk into. You need to climb down a lot to reach the beaches. They are protected by huge cliffs on either sides. Cabo De Rama is my second favourite - again takes a little bit of effort to reach there.

Day 2 – Cabo De Rama BeachFrom Canacona a deviation from the National Highway going to Karwar at Chinchinim, a quiet bumpy road goes towards the hills on the edge of the sea. At the end of this long winding road is the lonely Portuguese Cabo De Rama Fort.&nbsp;

A set of crude steps lead down to the Cabo De Rama beach. The beach is fairly secluded owning to its distance from major towns and cities and is not particularly crowded. The beach can only be reached by private transport. There are no shacks on this beach but on my way from the Fort I found a little place which served a delicious Goan thali consisting of rice, fish curry, fried fish and salad. What better than an authentic Goan lunch when in Goa!

Had enough, well then get moving on to Mandrem Beach. This is the relaxed part. You will see foreigners but they are more the family sort. The interesting topography makes a small inlet of water where you are sandwiched between water sand and ocean.

Had enough, well then get moving on to Mandrem Beach. This is the relaxed part. You will see foreigners but they are more the family sort. The interesting topography makes a small inlet of water where you are sandwiched between water sand and ocean.

g) Drove to Mandrem to explore the beach. Also checked "Elsewhere" cottages to check their stay. Pretty decent place to stay if you want to be away from the hustle and bustle and want far less crowded beach for yourself.

Our morning rides were largely unplanned, randomly choosing lefts or rights and driving down to see where it took us. We found ourselves in Mapusa one such morning, and headed to the famous Mapusa market. Hungry by then, we had breakfast at one of the few places there that was serving idlis for breakfast. The sambar was more Maharashtrian than Udipi. But these mildly sweet aniseed flavored local breads that they called ‘buns’ caught my fancy.

Our morning rides were largely unplanned, randomly choosing lefts or rights and driving down to see where it took us. We found ourselves in Mapusa one such morning, and headed to the famous Mapusa market. Hungry by then, we had breakfast at one of the few places there that was serving idlis for breakfast. The sambar was more Maharashtrian than Udipi. But these mildly sweet aniseed flavored local breads that they called ‘buns’ caught my fancy.

Dudhsagar Falls and a train crossing the falls is one of the most iconic travel images from India. Located 54 kms from Benaulim , the Dudhsagar Falls act as a natural boundary between Goa and Karnataka. The majestic white water rapid falling from a considerable height is an awe-inspiring sight. The travel to Dudhsagar falls involves travelling across multiple small Goan villages and beautiful curves on the Western Ghat roads. We also crossed a enchantingly backwater river whose dark looked ominously like a huge python slithering across the dense jungle. One can drive till upto 9 kms of the actual falls after which one needs to take a local 4X4 jeep as the real jungle safari begins. On the way to the falls the jeep travels through treacherous jungle pathways negotiating multiple waterfalls flowing straight through the way. This jeep goes to about a kilometer of the falls from where one needs to trek to the waterfall. The majestic fall is a sight to behold in itself and once a train crosses the waterfall it is not tough to decipher why this is one of the most photographed sights. One can also have a swim below the falls, Life jackets are provided which ensure an experience for even the people who do not know to swimMartin’s Corner:

Dudhsagar Falls and a train crossing the falls is one of the most iconic travel images from India. Located 54 kms from Benaulim , the Dudhsagar Falls act as a natural boundary between Goa and Karnataka. The majestic white water rapid falling from a considerable height is an awe-inspiring sight. The travel to Dudhsagar falls involves travelling across multiple small Goan villages and beautiful curves on the Western Ghat roads. We also crossed a enchantingly backwater river whose dark looked ominously like a huge python slithering across the dense jungle. One can drive till upto 9 kms of the actual falls after which one needs to take a local 4X4 jeep as the real jungle safari begins. On the way to the falls the jeep travels through treacherous jungle pathways negotiating multiple waterfalls flowing straight through the way. This jeep goes to about a kilometer of the falls from where one needs to trek to the waterfall. The majestic fall is a sight to behold in itself and once a train crosses the waterfall it is not tough to decipher why this is one of the most photographed sights. One can also have a swim below the falls, Life jackets are provided which ensure an experience for even the people who do not know to swimMartin’s Corner:

A travel to a place is never complete until you taste the local cuisine and I think there are very few places which can serve up the authentic Goan cuisine with an amazing ambience. Live music, lobsters and glass of Long Island Iced Tea make this place in Betabatim a must visit.All these makes me wonder why is South Goa so less popular than the touristy North but then another voice reminds me that probably its better left untouched.

Known for its exclusive beauty this resort is famous for weddings and functions. It has a unconventional view of the sea with large sand stones in the way. A scenic beauty with high waves coming towards you.

Known for its exclusive beauty this resort is famous for weddings and functions. It has a unconventional view of the sea with large sand stones in the way. A scenic beauty with high waves coming towards you.

Everytime I have set foot in Goa, have never missed this Lane. You will find Resto, Spa, Clubs, Stay, Shops and the best part is end of the lane is Baga Beach and Shacks.During season time, dont even think of driving on this lane, or you will be stuck forever. Park your vehicle and take a walk. Cape Town, Kamaki and Mambos are my Favorites among the Clubs. Julma is a decent stay.

Everytime I have set foot in Goa, have never missed this Lane. You will find Resto, Spa, Clubs, Stay, Shops and the best part is end of the lane is Baga Beach and Shacks.During season time, dont even think of driving on this lane, or you will be stuck forever. Park your vehicle and take a walk. Cape Town, Kamaki and Mambos are my Favorites among the Clubs. Julma is a decent stay.

Located in Old Goa, India, it comes under the dominion of the Latin Rite Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Goa and Daman and the seat of the Patriarch of the East Indies.

The Sé Catedral de Santa Catarina, known as Se Cathedral, is the cathedral of the Latin Rite Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Goa and Daman and the seat of the Patriarch of the East Indies. Located in Old Goa, India, the largest church in India is dedicated to Catherine of Alexandria. It is one of the oldest and most celebrated religious buildings in Goa and is one of the largest churches in Asia.
The Se Cathedral was built to commemorate the victory of the Portuguese under Afonso de Albuquerque over a Muslim army, leading to the capture of the city of Goa in 1510. Since the day of the victory happened to be on the feast of Saint Catherine, the cathedral was dedicated to her.

Dedicated to the holy St Catherine in Old Goa, the St Catherine is one of the most ancient and architectural building in Goa. It is the largest church in India and is one of the best places to visit in Goa. It is built based on the famous Portuguese-Manueline style of architecture and ha five huge bells one of them being known as the Golden Bell.

From the balcony of my room I had a view of four magnificent waterfalls and absolute dense green jungle. In the campsite there are numerous snakes and all other creatures which live in perfect harmony with the guests. We actually saw a Vine snake on a tree about 3 meters from my room. We had an orientation session first. Niramal Kulkarni explained about the ventures and activities of MRS. The lunch was a stunning one. An amalgamation of rustic Kokani cuisine with a hint of French cooking. Chicken, fish, mutton curies in coconut gravy, fried fish, rice bhkaries, local red rice and sol-kadhi. Who doesn’t have an appetite for such a delicious food after night long journey! Our trails taught us a lot about the current scenarios (political) that hinder the conservation and also many technical aspects of wildlife research. MRS has a beautiful collection of data charts that give practically all details about the rich wild heritage of the region. The interns working there are very enthusiastic and open a treasure of knowledge both during the slide shows and on field. The first trail took us to the chief highland plateau where MRS is currently working on snakes and caecilians. A moderate trek for half hour takes you to this place from the MRS.&nbsp;We were warned to carry dry bags and raincoats with us, to good reason also. Just upon reaching the top we were lashed with torrential rainfall which drenched us to the bone. We actually could feel the force the rain drops had as the battered down on all our gear and selves. After this ten minutes standstill and suffer affair the weather opened up to a beautiful sunny afternoon. Scourging the plateau we spotted an amazing collection of small animals. Bright coloured fresh water crab, a pied bellied shieldtail (snake), a caterpillar trying to save its eggs from ants, a scorpion and millipedes were the show stealers. Motherly love exsists even in the small creatures. MRS also runs the Pit Viper Expedition every year to study the behavioural and habitat patterns of pit vipers (snake). On coming back to MRS along with some hot tea we had a session on the use of various field record equipments used in wildlife research. it was mesmerising to see the dedication of the MRS team to fight all odds and work tirelessely towards conservation. They have successfully stopped mining in the region. The night trail on the first day was also a rewarding experience. We saw two colour morphs of Malabar Pit Vipers, a Bronze Backed Tree snake, Dobson’s Burrowing Frog, dozens of Malabar Gliding Frogs, Prashad’s Gecko and my favourite a Cicada with its molt amongst many others. the serenity of the jungles here and the melody of thousands of insects, nightjars and the pure dark black night make you rethink your definition of peace.&nbsp;The starry sky (if there is no overcast) gives you a feeling of truly being a small part of this giant universe. It is a sight to behold and remember for all the days that you spend in the busy and bright night life of cities. The night definitely gives you all the rest that you need without any disturbance from the other small world that we dwell in. This is such a remote and beautiful place which has no mobile connectivity. That means no emails from the office to throw deadlines and no calls to remind about the overdue and pending tasks. It is a bliss that only a fortunate few will experience. And I am one of those few.

From the balcony of my room I had a view of four magnificent waterfalls and absolute dense green jungle. In the campsite there are numerous snakes and all other creatures which live in perfect harmony with the guests. We actually saw a Vine snake on a tree about 3 meters from my room. We had an orientation session first. Niramal Kulkarni explained about the ventures and activities of MRS. The lunch was a stunning one. An amalgamation of rustic Kokani cuisine with a hint of French cooking. Chicken, fish, mutton curies in coconut gravy, fried fish, rice bhkaries, local red rice and sol-kadhi. Who doesn’t have an appetite for such a delicious food after night long journey! Our trails taught us a lot about the current scenarios (political) that hinder the conservation and also many technical aspects of wildlife research. MRS has a beautiful collection of data charts that give practically all details about the rich wild heritage of the region. The interns working there are very enthusiastic and open a treasure of knowledge both during the slide shows and on field. The first trail took us to the chief highland plateau where MRS is currently working on snakes and caecilians. A moderate trek for half hour takes you to this place from the MRS.&nbsp;We were warned to carry dry bags and raincoats with us, to good reason also. Just upon reaching the top we were lashed with torrential rainfall which drenched us to the bone. We actually could feel the force the rain drops had as the battered down on all our gear and selves. After this ten minutes standstill and suffer affair the weather opened up to a beautiful sunny afternoon. Scourging the plateau we spotted an amazing collection of small animals. Bright coloured fresh water crab, a pied bellied shieldtail (snake), a caterpillar trying to save its eggs from ants, a scorpion and millipedes were the show stealers. Motherly love exsists even in the small creatures. MRS also runs the Pit Viper Expedition every year to study the behavioural and habitat patterns of pit vipers (snake). On coming back to MRS along with some hot tea we had a session on the use of various field record equipments used in wildlife research. it was mesmerising to see the dedication of the MRS team to fight all odds and work tirelessely towards conservation. They have successfully stopped mining in the region. The night trail on the first day was also a rewarding experience. We saw two colour morphs of Malabar Pit Vipers, a Bronze Backed Tree snake, Dobson’s Burrowing Frog, dozens of Malabar Gliding Frogs, Prashad’s Gecko and my favourite a Cicada with its molt amongst many others. the serenity of the jungles here and the melody of thousands of insects, nightjars and the pure dark black night make you rethink your definition of peace.&nbsp;The starry sky (if there is no overcast) gives you a feeling of truly being a small part of this giant universe. It is a sight to behold and remember for all the days that you spend in the busy and bright night life of cities. The night definitely gives you all the rest that you need without any disturbance from the other small world that we dwell in. This is such a remote and beautiful place which has no mobile connectivity. That means no emails from the office to throw deadlines and no calls to remind about the overdue and pending tasks. It is a bliss that only a fortunate few will experience. And I am one of those few.

• Wildlife Sanctuaries :- Unlike wildlife sanctuaries across the rest of India, sanctuaries in Goa are open all year round. These sanctuaries are an absolute must-visit during the monsoons when they are washed clean by the rains. Some of Goa’s popular wildlife sanctuaries are the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary which is located in North Goa near Valpoi.Enjoy the Rain :-

If you are a animal lover, Wildlife Sanctuaries are also very good option to visit in monsoon. Some of the famous wildlife sanctuaries of Goa are Mhadei wildlife sanctuary which is located in North Goa.&nbsp;The Bhagwan Mahavir Sanctuary and Mollem national park is also popular .And at the end of the What is Goa without parties. The places like Mambo's and Tito's are usually free of crowd in the monsoon season. So This is a great time to have parties there.I hope this information about Goa In 3 Days will help you to plan your trip soon. . . . . !!

Mambos: Been Goa trice and never missed going to Mambos. They do play great music, got crazy themes and lovely service. This place is bright and beautiful. And what makes this place more interesting: beach right in front of it.

Day 4 It was the day for watersports, eating out, beers, and relaxation. We opted for watersports in calangute beach. my friend went for waterscooter and parasailing for 1100/- and I took a foot masssage on one of the shack and soaked myself in sun. We then took a dip in the sea and we were too tired after having a lunch in one of the shack. The same night we went to cafe Mambos in calangute for clubbing. It was an amazing place for drinks and music. The crowd, the food, the drinks and the music. everything was just electrifying. That was the end of day 4 when I was hell tired. Just needed a good night sleep so we came back to hostel.

St. Anthony's Beach Sack: The best Karaoke Night I have ever been to..I found everything about this place most amazing and memorable. Highlights: Karaoke, ambience, beautiful lighting, lovely crowed and the soothing beach sounds.Places I stayed at:

St. Anthony's Beach Sack: The best Karaoke Night I have ever been to..I found everything about this place most amazing and memorable. Highlights: Karaoke, ambience, beautiful lighting, lovely crowed and the soothing beach sounds.Places I stayed at:

I took out some time to visit the Bondla wildlife sanctuary and Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary too. It was a chance to see the other facet of Goa. Away from the beaches, it was a treat to witness the splendid beauty of Mother Nature. Goa is much more than just beaches and sea. It has a soul, which goes deep into unique history, rich culture and some of the prettiest natural scenery that India has to offer. Give yourself a chance to explore the real Goa that lies in its interiors, both inside its buildings and in the hinterland away from the coastal area. A word of caution: not every one you come across will be friendly.

I took out some time to visit the Bondla wildlife sanctuary and Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary too. It was a chance to see the other facet of Goa. Away from the beaches, it was a treat to witness the splendid beauty of Mother Nature. Goa is much more than just beaches and sea. It has a soul, which goes deep into unique history, rich culture and some of the prettiest natural scenery that India has to offer. Give yourself a chance to explore the real Goa that lies in its interiors, both inside its buildings and in the hinterland away from the coastal area. A word of caution: not every one you come across will be friendly.

Anjuna, is a relatively less crowded place in South Goa. It offers great food, cheap stays, tourist stuff like forts, churches, flea markets, adventure stuff like paragliding. If you yearn to watch Dolphins, you can find many places, on the banks of the Mandovi River nearby at Sinquerim beach, that offer tours for a fee. When the sun goes down, beach shacks come alive with live music, and great food and drinks. You can dance until the stars fade against a lilac sky, if you haven't passed out already that is.

Anjuna, is a relatively less crowded place in South Goa. It offers great food, cheap stays, tourist stuff like forts, churches, flea markets, adventure stuff like paragliding. If you yearn to watch Dolphins, you can find many places, on the banks of the Mandovi River nearby at Sinquerim beach, that offer tours for a fee. When the sun goes down, beach shacks come alive with live music, and great food and drinks. You can dance until the stars fade against a lilac sky, if you haven't passed out already that is.

Another name of the Vagator Beach, this is not a very known part of the Vagator Beach. The main attraction here apart from the beach itself is the 6ft tall idol of Lord Shiva with a backdrop of greenery and of course the waters of the river. There are a number of shopping stalls but bargaining is a must here. The food stalls are decent too. The only drawback here is that there are at times a bad crowd especially in this beach and to get rid of their nuisance you can just go and approach the police who are present here all time at your service.

Another name of the Vagator Beach, this is not a very known part of the Vagator Beach. The main attraction here apart from the beach itself is the 6ft tall idol of Lord Shiva with a backdrop of greenery and of course the waters of the river. There are a number of shopping stalls but bargaining is a must here. The food stalls are decent too. The only drawback here is that there are at times a bad crowd especially in this beach and to get rid of their nuisance you can just go and approach the police who are present here all time at your service.

Vagator is a quiet little place in the district of Bardez, hidden away in the lush greenery of the glorious monsoons, serene and enchantingly beautiful. Ozran Beach, also called the Little Vagator, at a walkable distance from the hotel, provided an amazing landscape. A rocky beach, with coconut trees swaying in the wind, and the clear foamy waters, the rippling waves breaking at the shore and retreating only to rush forth again with unparalleled vigour. Be it the cool breeze or the mighty winds, you cannot help but sit on the rocks for hours together, staring far ahead into the sea, losing yourself in a chain of thoughts, taking in the view, enjoying the calm surroundings; the rush you feel when you see something so beautiful and magnificent, the joys that the simplicity of nature brings that one usually overlooks when you're so engrossed with a busy life all come rushing to you with a suddenly unleashed force. A beautiful place to soothe your tired nerves and rejuvenate yourself, Vagator is just the place to be in North Goa.

After Thalassa, we went to this private beach which has the stair down which is right parallel to Antares (antares is right next to Thalassa). This beach is also known as small vagator beach and not the one to miss at all! Do do do visit this beach if you happen to be by Thalassa! The sunset and the evening time is best. Nothing less than paradise with neon lit umbrellas, candle light, far from chaos and soothing breeze!

This trip came along as the much-needed leisurely break from the monotony and mayhem of life. A spontaneous but well-planned trip had me and the special someone heading off to celebrate the beauty of the monsoons in the lap of the beautiful rocky Ozran Beach, also known as the Little Vagator.

Coco beach, about a km and a half from the rooms we rented out, was our very first stop in this insanely magnificent place. It was a place recommended by the locals and not high on any to go list you'd find over the internet. Coco beach is famous for its dolphin sightings.

Between 45 minutes or an hour out of Calangute, crossing the Mandovi River at Panaji (the capitol of Goa) we had a delightful visit at the Sahakari Spice Farm at Ponda. There was the aroma of vanilla orchid spice, ginger, cloves, cinnamon and many, many more spices coming from the trees and plants grown at the farm. The most exciting part of the day is yet to come as we made our way to a nearby lake to mingle with the kings of this jungle – Goan elephants! Marvel at the wonders of nature as you watch these elephants bathe in the peaceful lake. Feed them or, better yet, join them on a refreshing swim in the lake. This is one experience not to be missed!

Between 45 minutes or an hour out of Calangute, crossing the Mandovi River at Panaji (the capitol of Goa) we had a delightful visit at the Sahakari Spice Farm at Ponda. There was the aroma of vanilla orchid spice, ginger, cloves, cinnamon and many, many more spices coming from the trees and plants grown at the farm. The most exciting part of the day is yet to come as we made our way to a nearby lake to mingle with the kings of this jungle – Goan elephants! Marvel at the wonders of nature as you watch these elephants bathe in the peaceful lake. Feed them or, better yet, join them on a refreshing swim in the lake. This is one experience not to be missed!

Along the railway track from Castle Rock to Kulem are three stations – Caranzol, Dudhsagar and Sonalium. They are buzzing with several railway staff and workers working tirelessly, often in pouring rain, to ensure that the track is viable for operations and all safety norms are met. From Sonalium one has the option of taking a dirt road through the woods that is also used by motorists coming from Kulem and heading to the fall. Several streams cross this dirt road and crossing them during the monsoons can be a bit tricky.

Along the railway track from Castle Rock to Kulem are three stations – Caranzol, Dudhsagar and Sonalium. They are buzzing with several railway staff and workers working tirelessly, often in pouring rain, to ensure that the track is viable for operations and all safety norms are met. From Sonalium one has the option of taking a dirt road through the woods that is also used by motorists coming from Kulem and heading to the fall. Several streams cross this dirt road and crossing them during the monsoons can be a bit tricky.

Eating out: I must admit Goa has gotten expensive in the past few years when it comes to food. Irrespective of the quality and authenticity, everybody seemed to be charging a premium when it came to seafood despite the supply being aplenty. Cribs aside, we figured if we were to be paying the premium prices, we’d rather visit the tried and tested institutions of food in Goa – Infantaria and Britto’s are two such places on the list you would not regret splurging at. And while all my meals at the former ended with their decadent bebinca (the famous layered Goan dessert made of flour, coconut milk and ghee), the latter was the preferred choice for a candle-lit dinner of Goan delicacies like the cafreal and the goan local bread called Sannas.

Eating out: I must admit Goa has gotten expensive in the past few years when it comes to food. Irrespective of the quality and authenticity, everybody seemed to be charging a premium when it came to seafood despite the supply being aplenty. Cribs aside, we figured if we were to be paying the premium prices, we’d rather visit the tried and tested institutions of food in Goa – Infantaria and Britto’s are two such places on the list you would not regret splurging at. And while all my meals at the former ended with their decadent bebinca (the famous layered Goan dessert made of flour, coconut milk and ghee), the latter was the preferred choice for a candle-lit dinner of Goan delicacies like the cafreal and the goan local bread called Sannas.

Very close to the Candolim Beach, this is a beautiful holiday resort. Not a sprawling, posh property like the Vivanta but its location is very good as well. It is about only 200 metres from the main Candolim beach and thus preferred even more by tourists. The servoces provided to the guests are all pretty standard including the fooding, rooms and also the parking space. There are however spaces of improvement but one thing can be assured and that is a complete value for money.

Very close to the Candolim Beach, this is a beautiful holiday resort. Not a sprawling, posh property like the Vivanta but its location is very good as well. It is about only 200 metres from the main Candolim beach and thus preferred even more by tourists. The servoces provided to the guests are all pretty standard including the fooding, rooms and also the parking space. There are however spaces of improvement but one thing can be assured and that is a complete value for money.

If the title doesn’t excite you enough to make you pack your bags and escape the unrelenting schedules of your daily life, we’ll see to it that you feel so by the end of this article.
We often come across boys going on a trip with their ‘guy gang’ and living their bachelor life to the fullest. But as a famous brand’s tagline rightly points out, ‘Why should boys have all the fun?’

There is also a church adjoining the fort. Unfortunately it was closed when we visited. The visit to Reis Magos Fort, was a wonderful experience. Well, Goa has many beautiful forts like Fort Aguada, Chapora, Cabo De Rama which one must visit. But if possible,do spent some time to visit this place. This place has historical relevance, and that many of our freedom fighters were lodged here. Visit this place to get rid of the maddening crowd that you experience in North Goa. Experience the beautiful sunset, feel the old world charm, the coconut groves, the beautiful by lanes of Reis Magos. Visit this lesser known "hidden gem" of Goa!